​Puff…Puff…GONE! – 185 “Puffers” Stolen in Denver in Three Months’ Time

We get it, no one likes climbing into a bone-chilling cold car, but warming up a vehicle while leaving it running unattended – “puffing” – is a golden invitation to car thieves. The proof? In Denver, 185 “puffers” were stolen between November 1, 2017, and January 31, 2018!

The Denver Police Department is asking for residents’ help in applying the brakes to this car theft trend by simply remaining in their car while it’s idling and warming to a good operating temperature.

And good habits for preventing car theft year-round are:

• Always lock your car, roll up the windows and take your keys.
• Never leave belongings in your car. Anything is valuable to a criminal.
• Never leave the car running unattended, even for a short period. Criminals are looking for unattended cars to use in committing other crimes.
• Park in well-lit and busy areas.
• Use an alarm system and/or steering wheel lock device, so your vehicle is less tempting to steal.

Besides increasing the risk of thieves stealing a car, “puffing” can also result in a citation, even if the vehicle is equipped with a remote start system.