Free Republic

Washington DC will hand out free AirTags to residents to track stolen cars in light of the rising levels of crime. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced in a press conference that residents living in areas with the highest reports of carjackings will receive a free tracking device. Free AirTags will be distributed at three different events held from November 7-9 and residents will have to show proof of residency and an address that matches the eligible areas. Bowser said at the press conference: 'These tags and tiles will help MPD recover stolen vehicles and hold people accountable. 'The word will also...

Denver’s crime continues to rise in contrast to the statewide crime rate. The Common Sense Institute, a free-market think tank and policy analysis group, published a study on Denver crime ... The study tracks how Denver’s crime rates spiked over the pandemic and have continued to rise. It suggests that the Mile High’s problem is unique to Denver, rather than Denver being an example of a statewide crime problem, though it does not include a comparison of other cities’ crime rates. ... Denver’s average monthly rate of crimes per 1,000 people reached a high last year of 9.01 – a...

The owner of a stolen car in Denver successfully tracked down his vehicle with an app but wound up killing a 12-year-old boy in an ensuing shootout, say police. The unidentified driver approached his vehicle once he found it and was "involved in an exchange of gunfire" with its occupants, according to a police statement. The boy later identified as Elias Armstrong then drove the vehicle about two blocks, where police found him inside it with a gunshot wound, reports the New York Times. Elias was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Seven years ago, Business Insider published, “14 reasons why Denver is the best place to live in America.” They recommended everyone consider Denver as “your next hometown” citing a strong job market, low unemployment, great restaurants, and practical perks such as a low crime rate and good schools. That was then. How is Denver doing now as “trendy and desirable”? In answering that question, the Glendale Cherry Creek Chronicle published, “Denver becoming America’s crime capital.” That’s quite the turnaround in less than a decade, especially when we think of New York City, Baltimore, or Philadelphia as America’s crime capitals. In...

Car thefts in Colorado are on track to outpace every other state in the country for a second straight year, and public safety experts say the crimes are also growing more violent. Driving the news: Just over a week ago, a Denver officer was shot in the back of the neck after apprehending a suspect who allegedly stole a car. A Denver man accused of stealing a Jeep on Sunday in Lakewood crashed the vehicle into an ambulance, injuring four people — including two firefighters. The man later told police he was forced by a female passenger to drive the...

It looks like Colorado is on track for the second year in a row to claim the dubious title of No. 1 state for auto theft. That’s among the startling findings of the latest crime study released Thursday by Colorado’s Common Sense Institute. Alarming, galling, embarrassing and depressing are among the words that should come to mind for most Coloradans. And it’s even worse than that. It’s also deeply troubling because — as law officers long have pointed out, and the new data form Common Sense makes clear — auto theft is tied to other serious crimes. Motor vehicles sometimes...

BALTIMORE (WBFF) - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Baltimore field office stopped 157 stolen cars from being shipped overseas during the past fiscal year (Oct. 1, 2019 through Sept. 30, 2020). The Baltimore Field Office ranks second in the number of vehicles intercepted during that time. Only the New York field office recovered more. The total value of the vehicles was $4,876,000. 37 of the vehicles were stolen from Maryland. 16 others were stolen from Virginia. Nationally, the Office of Field Operations recovered 1,082 stolen vehicles, of which 833 were destined overseas. Most of the vehicles were...

Police are investigating a series of break-ins at local auto dealerships in or near Winston-Salem, North Carolina, after a group of 19 juveniles ranging in age between six and 16 allegedly stole nearly 50 cars worth more than a million dollars over the past two months.The car thefts began on March 17, 2020, when 18 break-ins occurred at auto dealers in Winston-Salem, according to a release from Crime Stoppers of Winston Salem Forsyth County.An additional two auto dealers were targeted 15 minutes away in Kernersville.The stolen vehicles came from at least eight dealerships, including Audi, Ford, Lexus, Volvo, Honda, Subaru, Chevrolet, and Toyota.For...

Four suspects, including a man who accidentally shot himself in the leg with a stolen gun as he tried to flee from officers, are jailed in connection with the theft of a local firefighter’s pickup on Dec. 10 from outside the Temple fire station where it was parked... Reed was taken to the Bell County Jail where a jailer who searched him found a bag of suspected methamphetamine, the affidavit says... Sizemore admitted to investigators that Castleman arrived at her home driving the stolen truck and told her that he had found the 2002 Chevrolet Silverado with the keys and...

For the second year in a row the Albuquerque area was rated No. 1 in the country – in auto theft, that is. The National Insurance Crime Bureau found that Bernalillo and neighboring counties kept the 2016 streak alive with nearly 10,000 auto thefts in 2017, according to statistics released Thursday. Analyzing data from the National Crime Information Center, the bureau found 9,989 auto thefts across Bernalillo, Sandoval, Torrance and Valencia counties in 2017. That ranks the area No. 1 in the country for auto thefts per capita.

The Pasco County Sheriff's Office made an unusual arrest Friday afternoon, stemming from an auto theft. Cody Hession arrested Friday afternooon in Pasco Hession had Capachin monkey with him Monkey released to FWC Cody Hession is accused of stealing a vehicle from St. Pete and driving to Pasco County, where he drove the vehicle into a ditch in Holiday. Officials said Hession fled the vehicle but was detained by deputies on the scene. The incident seems like any other auto theft, but, who Hession had with him was the unusual part.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Stealing cars has apparently never been easier. Criminals aren't using fancy tools or new technology; they're just calling the tow truck and having cars towed away. They weren't asked for proof they owned the car. The law does little to protect a car's owner when the vehicle is at least 10 years old. Thieves can call in a wrecker service and have it towed right out of an owner's yard; they don't even need a title.

Mexican Drug Cartels Drive Much of Illicit Vehicle Trade; Laredo, Texas, Is Hit Hard This city along the Rio Grande is on the verge of becoming the stolen-car capital of the U.S., according to data set for release Monday that underscore how drug cartels are helping make the U.S.-Mexico border region a hot spot for vehicle thieves. The National Insurance Crime Bureau, a nonprofit body that collects law-enforcement reports, said 1,960 vehicles were reported stolen in the Laredo metropolitan area last year, an increase of more than 47% since 2005, when Laredo ranked 32nd nationally. That comes to 827 thefts...

Fresno police shot and killed a man this morning in Calwa, after the man allegedly tried to strike an officer with a weapon.

Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer said this afternoon that two officers in the department's narcotics unit have been arrested and two others are under investigation for auto theft.

A frantic, last-ditch attempt to forge an relief package for the auto industry collapsed in the U.S. Senate, dealing a giant blow to hopes of the Big Three. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada suggested the $14 billion wouldn't be revisited until January. "It's over with," he said. The talks, which appeared close to a deal several times, broke off due to a sharp partisan dispute over the wages paid to workers at the troubled manufacturing giants. General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC, which have said they can't last the year without federal aid, both hope the White House...

A dejected stock market headed for a plunge at the opening of trading Friday as the Senate's rejection of a $14 billion lifeline for the auto industry intensified investors' concerns about a deepening recession.

Police attribute decline to Mexican military presence Brownsville police are reporting a sharp decline in motor vehicle thefts, attributing the decrease to the strong Mexican military presence in cities bordering the United States. "It's been very effective," said Brownsville police Lt. James Paschall of the Special Investigations Unit. "We have a good working relationship with state police, local police and other entities within Matamoros." So far this month, 15 vehicles have been reported stolen in Brownsville, compared to 40 in May 2007. Mexican authorities reported 18 vehicles stolen in Matamoros during April. "It's worked out very well, it's down," Paschall...

EARLY on the afternoon of March 26, two young men visited Heritage Auto Sales, a specialty dealership in Calgary, Alberta. They asked to test-drive a dark gray 1991 Nissan Skyline GT-R, a performance model made primarily for the Japanese market and rarely seen in North America. ... One of the men had been to the dealership a week earlier for a ride, but he and Mr. Ironside didn’t get far. The car, with an engine modified for extra horsepower, began to act up. When the man returned with a friend for another try, Mr. Ironside was juggling two customers, so...

Investigators also found over 70 illegal immigrants PALMVIEW - Sheriff's deputies arrested the head of an auto theft ring near Palmview. The man is also accused of human smuggling. The arrest happened on Bentsen Palm Drive and Three Mile Line. Investigators were watching a house connected to possible stolen vehicles. When they went into the home, they found stolen vehicle and over 70 illegals inside. The people were turned over to Border Patrol. Watch NEWSCHANNEL 5 for the latest information.