Is Colorado the Worst State For Car Theft in the Country?

Nobody wants to have their car broken into. Cars are sacred places for many. Some spend many hours in their vehicles each week traveling to work, running errands, and getting where they need to go. Some people keep valuables in their cars, and others view it as a second home based on how much time they spend in it. When someone's vehicle gets broken into, it costs money to fix, money to replace what was taken, and it can ruin a day real quick. There are certain places where car theft is more common than others, and sadly, Colorado sees more car thefts than many other places. 

Colorado Has Too Much Car Theft

Per capita, Colorado has more car theft than any other state. California may have more overall, but when you consider the population and how many cars there are for the number of people, Colorado is king. According to iii.org, there are three places in Colorado that crack the top ten in the United States for car theft. Pueblo, Colorado, is the worst place in the country for car theft according to a recent study, with Denver ranking third nationally, and Greeley also cracking the top ten and ranking ninth nationally on the list. In 2024, Colorado saw over 29,000 car thefts, which is far too many. So now that we know which areas are being targeted, what places in these locations are thieves finding the most success? 

Car Theft in Colorado

When it comes to the most commonly stolen vehicles in America, the Hyundai Elantra is the most stolen, with the Hyundai Sonata the second most stolen and the Kia Optima the third most stolen. Clearly, you may want to rethink buying a Hyundai. Most thefts occur in parking garages, dark parking lots, and cars parked on the street. To avoid getting your car broken into, make sure to hide any loose change or valuables, always lock your car, keep your windows rolled up, and to keep your car from getting stolen, use a steering wheel lock. When parking downtown, make sure to park in lit areas and public places where your car can be seen. 

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Hopefully, you don't end up experiencing your car getting broken into or stolen, but if you do, you are not alone, as it appears to be more common in Colorado than in other states. For more on car theft stats, make sure to click the link in the second paragraph above.