Colorado Still High Risk, But Auto Theft Is Trending Down

Colorado Drops from Nation’s Highest Auto Theft State

In recent years, Colorado has been notorious for auto thefts. So much, in fact, that Colorado led the nation in auto thefts for a few years in a row.

Many of my friends would avoid taking trips down to Denver just because of the news of how many vehicles were being stolen, and they did not want to become a victim, and rightfully so. That old saying "better safe than sorry" comes to mind when they made mention of it.

READ MORE: How Colorado Uses Cameras and Lighting to Combat Car Theft

Thankfully, there is some good news if you are concerned about having your vehicle stolen in Colorado in 2025. Last year, Colorado dipped in the rankings when it came to vehicle theft. However, Colorado is still one of the top 10 states in the nation where auto thefts occur, but not in first place.

2024 Sees Major Decline in Car Thefts

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, there were more than 850,000 vehicles stolen in 2024. Thefts of this nature equate to a motor vehicle being stolen once every 37 seconds in the United States. Luckily for us residents, Colorado dropped into seventh place for auto thefts in the nation last year. California took the number one spot, with Texas trailing behind at number two.

How to Protect Your Vehicle from Theft

The National Highway Traffic Safety Association says that one of the best ways to protect yourself and your car from being stolen is to use common sense practices such as taking your keys to the vehicle with you when you exit, close and lock all windows and doors when you park, park in well-lit areas whenever possible, and never leave valuable items in your vehicle, especially if they can be seen from the outside.

READ MORE: Denver Cartel Auto Theft Ring Dismantled by Authorities

For more information on how to better protect yourself from vehicle theft, visit nhtsa.gov/theft.