‘Puffing’ Car Thefts in Pueblo
It’s something most do early in the morning when temperatures are cold. People starting their cars to warm them up then letting them run for a minute before starting their commute. It’s called puffing, and Pueblo police say on Friday multiple cars were stolen because of it.
Authorities say at least three cars were stolen with the keys already in the ignition making it easy for the suspects to get away. They happened in the area of Belmont and University Park and police believe up to six suspects are involved.
Charity Sullivan lives in University Park and says the same thing happened to her last week. “I came back in for one more second to wake up my younger daughter up, went back out and the car was gone.”
Sullivan is one of the lucky ones, within 24 hours police found her car abandoned about seven miles away. “I was feeling positive, there was hope at that point,” says Sullivan. However, when she got her car back and looked inside, she says the suspects took everything, “My drivers license state ID, all my social security cards belonging to myself and my two younger children.”
Instead, she says she found makeup, fast food cups, and a pipe all left by the suspects.
Pueblo Police officer Brandon Beauvais says they always see an increase of these cases every winter season. “It’s a community concern as well as a police concern and we need everybody to participate to eliminate the opportunities that we are creating for criminals,” says Beauvais. Which is something Sullivan and her family say they will never do again, “I don’t care how cold it is outside, I don’t care if it’s a push start car, don’t leave your car running outside for any reason what so ever.”
Authorities are now investigating to see if this recent string of thefts is related to similar thefts earlier in the week. Police were able to find and return some of the stolen cars to their owners but are still searching for three more.
Officers are looking for a 2005 green Kia Sedona with a Colorado plate that reads 448-YLC, a 2003 gray Chevy Avalanche with a Colorado plate that reads QOR-623, and a 2008 black Hyundai Versa.
If you have any information about the thefts or know where the vehicles are you are asked to call police immediately.
