2011 crime report
Theft Theft is the taking, carrying, leading, or riding away of property from the possession of another person. The blue line of the chart below shows total theft in Arvada for the last five years and 2011. Theft had been increasing at a slow pace but started to decline in 2011. Types of theft included in this total are shoplifting, theft from vehicle, theft from yard and general petty theft. Theft is considered different from burglary and robbery because “the taking” does not involve force against a person or fraud.
Theft from Vehicle (car breaks): One factor contributing to the recent decline in theft may be the decrease in theft from vehicles (car breaks). The red line of the chart above shows total car breaks in Arvada for the last five years and 2011. Car breaks recorded a high of 887 in 2006 and a swift decline in 2007 and a steady increase to 758 in 2010. In 2011, FDCT fell to the second lowest in the past five years. Unlocked vehicles in driveways or apartment complex parking lots are an easy target. A favorite past time for teens is “car hopping”. Those who participate in car hoping walk up a street trying car door handles until they find one open, rummage through the vehicle, remove anything of value (or not) and move on to the next vehicle. It is not unusual for victims to be unaware that they had been victimized, until days later when they are looking for property left in their vehicle. Targeted items continue to be cell phones, Ipods, GPS devices and money. There were 42 arrests for theft from vehicle in 2011. Individuals most often arrested are teen males.
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