The suspect rammed into the cruisers while attempting to drive away.
Colorado Springs had an exciting Wednesday morning on February 25 when a suspect in a stolen vehicle rammed into two police cruisers while attempting to escape.
Police said they were called to the 1400 block of Tesla Drive around 8 a.m. on Wednesday. Callers from the eastern Colorado Springs neighborhood reported a suspicious person.
Officers arrived on the scene and found a man sleeping behind the wheel of a vehicle. When they woke him up, the suspect drove away, but not without ramming into their police cruisers. Police said the incident damaged the two cruisers, but no officers were injured.
The man got away in what police say is a stolen vehicle. They have identified the suspect and have an arrest warrant pending.
The Rise of Car Thefts in Colorado
According to data released by the Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority's Metropolitan Auto Theft Task Force, vehicle thefts in Colorado increased by 55 percent from 2019 to 2020. The task force reported a stark increase in car thefts once the pandemic hit.
In a 2019 report by the Colorado Department of Public Safety, Colorado Springs placed second on the list for most car thefts. Denver took the number one spot.
With the dramatic rise in car thefts across the state, state and county officials are continually pushing out information to residents on preventing car thefts. A 2019 summer initiative put in place by the Coloradans Against Car Theft group and law enforcement aimed to educate Coloradans about the importance of preventing auto theft.
The "Lock Down Your Car" campaign included a website that's still active today. Coloradans can go to lockdownyourcar.org to learn facts, tips, and other important information about car theft.
How to Prevent Car Theft
The "Lock Down Your Car" campaign website includes tips for protecting yourself from becoming a victim of auto theft. Follow these top tips to ensure your vehicle remains safe, and head to lockdownyourcar.org to find more information on preventing vehicle theft.
- Never leave your vehicle running unattended.
- Keep your doors locked while driving and while parked.
- Park in well-lit areas.
- Don't keep a set of spare keys in your car.
- Keep all valuables hidden from view, particularly in your trunk.
- Invest in stolen vehicle insurance.
- Never store firearms in your vehicle.
- Don't leave documents with your address in the glove box.
How do you feel about the rise of car thefts in Colorado Springs? Do you have additional tips for protecting yourself and your vehicle? Let us know in the comments.
