Colorado is shaking off its dubious distinction as America’s auto-theft capital — by cracking down, at last, on auto thieves. For two years running, our state had the highest car-theft rate in the nation. But the rate started dipping last year. A lot of the credit goes to getting tough.

As The Gazette reported last week, state data shows a sharp reduction in car theft for the first four months of this year, following 2023’s sustained decline. Authorities say a new state law — as well as funding for the Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority, renewed focus by local governments and public vigilance — have reduced vehicle theft by nearly half since 2022.

The state recorded 8,109 car thefts — roughly 67 cars stolen per day — from January to April. During the same period last year, 11,643 were reported stolen. The figure for 2022 stood even higher at 14,698.

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The top factor in the turnabout, authorities say, was the Legislature’s decision last year to peg the penalty for stealing a car to the severity of the incident instead of tying it to the stolen vehicle’s value — which, oddly, had been Colorado policy for years.

Before the Legislature adopted Senate Bill 23-097, stealing a car worth less than $2,000 actually was only a misdemeanor. The new law made auto theft in the first degree a class 3 felony, auto theft in the second degree a class 4 felony and auto theft in the third degree a class 5 felony.

The perverse upshot of the old policy is that a thief was let off with a slap on the wrist for stealing what likely was the only transportation for someone too poor to afford a another vehicle. A lot of stolen vehicles are in fact older, less expensive models; it’s not just Porsches, Audis and Escalades.

The new law also raised the stakes for repeat offenders and other aggravating factors related to auto theft. Most notably, a suspect with two prior convictions now can be charged with first-degree motor vehicle theft, a Class 3 felony.

Other developments also have helped turn the corner on auto theft in Colorado.

Last year’s legislative session allocated $5 million to the Auto Theft Prevention Cash Fund for programs to support victims and for technology upgrades. Local governments in cities hit hard by car theft — like Aurora and Denver — stepped up to the plate with efforts of their own. Alongside those steps, the motoring public is more aware and takes better precautions to prevent theft, law enforcement officials say.

Ironically, the very same Legislature that did the right thing to curb auto theft last year — had created the problem in the first place. In 2021, lawmakers reduced a range of criminal penalties to misdemeanors, including for stealing vehicles valued under $2,000. It was practically an invitation to auto theft — and an insult to motorists of modest means.

The Legislature reversed course only under duress, given the public outcry over stolen vehicles the black eye it gave our state in national media coverage. In other words, the lawmakers were embarrassed but unchastened. Too many of the Legislature’s ruling Democrats still harbor the contempt for law and order that drives their radical “justice reform” agenda, prioritizing criminals’ rights over those of victims.

Meanwhile, in the real world just outside the State Capitol Building, rank-and-file Coloradans understand that the only way to curb crime is to make sure it doesn’t pay. Clearly, that approach works on auto theft. And it will work in fighting other crimes, as well.

Colorado Springs Gazette Editorial Board