It Is Colorado Puffer Week, And It Has Nothing To Do With Pot

This week is Colorado Puffer Week, and law enforcement is going to be cracking down of people who leave their cars running unattended. Here is what you need to do to keep your car safe.

Coloradans Against Auto Theft (CAAT), in partnership with Colorado Auto Theft Investigators (CATI), unite for 2016’s “Puffer Week,” held Jan. 24-30. The statewide educational and enforcement week aims to inform the public about the risks, dangers and most recently, heightened crime associated with auto theft, specifically “puffer cars” – vehicles left running unattended with the telltale puff of the exhaust. Auto theft is often the first step in committing other, more serious crimes.

These are some of the headlines that have come from someone leaving their car running unattended:

“Gunshots fired after puffer car confrontation” (Denver Post)
“Denver 'puffer' has both cars stolen in a single day after leaving them unattended” (7 News)
“Car theft suspect recaptured after fighting his way out of Colorado Springs police vehicle” (Colorado Springs Gazette)

It is illegal (C.R.S. 42-4-1206) to leave your car running unattended. 28% of people polled said they didn’t know it was against the law and another 8% responded that they thought it is not illegal to leave your car puffing.

The CAAT website features a hot spot map with a geo-locator tool, allowing users to search auto theft in their area – incentivizing the public to be auto theft aware.

Keep your car safe and do not leave it running unattended for any reason.