Aurora police say those ticketed for letting their cars run unattended – puffers – got a cheap warning.
“We understand that receiving a traffic ticket is not a pleasant experience, but more importantly, had car thieves – not officers – found these puffer’s first, there would be 107 victims without a vehicle,” said Det. Bob Friel, Aurora police spokesman.
In a 4-hour span yesterday a squad of dozens of police officers wrote tickets for anyone who left their cars running and then went back in their homes, Friel said. The fines are between $75 and $105.
During the operation, officers found four stolen vehicles, Friel said.
Leaving cars running with the door open makes it easy for thieves to steal cars, he said. In Aurora, that is how thieves stole 200 vehicles last year, mostly between November and February.
Sgt. Darin Parker, who supervises the Pattern Crime Unit, said reducing auto thefts will also lower other crimes like ID theft, robberies and burglaries.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com
