Pueblo puffer car crackdown? Colder weather leads to more thefts
PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) -- What a difference a few weeks make. Not long ago, KRDO reported on a survey that said that puffer cars -- those unattended vehicles thieves find on a frosty morning -- were on the decline this year in Pueblo.
But a drop in temperature has caused a sudden spike in people illegally warming up their empty cars.
For criminals, puffing is a welcome sight.
"It's like an attraction to criminals: 'Hey, here you go! This is for you!'" said Sgt. Franklyn Ortega with the Pueblo Police Department.
Puffing, or idling, is illegal and it has been for years. Still, 44% of Colorado drivers don't actually know that.
"If you leave your vehicle running criminals are going to take the opportunity to steal your car," he said.
Ortega says every year they warn drivers and every year people ignore their warnings.
In Colorado, auto theft has increased by more than 57% since 2014. That's an average of 50 vehicles stolen every day. This year in Pueblo, it went from zero to a problem in just a matter of months.
"In October we had zero [puffer-related thefts] in the city and then in roughly mid-November 9 plus," he said.
Finding out your car is missing makes for a bad day. And when a criminal takes it, they may use it for other illegal activities. According to Ortega, police are generally good at getting your vehicle back.
"The Pueblo Police Department has a good recovery rate, about four days," he said.
But when you get it back, you may not want it after a four-day crime spree.
Pueblo PD is not the only department warning drivers about puffing this year. Denver and Greeley's police are also using social media to get their message out.
Ortega says historically they haven't ticketed victims but that could change soon.
"Because we have a chronic problem with the cold temperatures," he said.
Vehicles with remote start are exempt from the puffing rule. Also, a ticket can run you about $45 dollars so bundling up in the morning might just be your safest bet.
