When driving a stolen car, the last place you would probably go is the police station. However, one man did exactly that, winning the award for easiest auto theft arrest ever. Apparently, the man was driving around in the stolen car, when another driver noticed the vehicle, which had been reported as stolen and posted all over Facebook. The witness took video of the man driving the stolen car and then called the police to report it. The witness then followed the man right into the State Patrol parking lot. The man had been arrested earlier on drug charges and was returning to talk with the State Troopers about getting back his belongings. Instead, he was arrested again for Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft.
What is Aggravated Motor Theft in Fort Collins?
Colorado law defines C.R.S. 18-4-409 – Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft – as
(a) Retains possession or control of the motor vehicle for more than twenty-four hours; or
(b) Attempts to alter or disguise or alters or disguises the appearance of the motor vehicle; or
(c) Attempts to alter or remove or alters or removes the vehicle identification number; or
(d) Uses the motor vehicle in the commission of a crime other than a traffic offense; or
(e) Causes five hundred dollars or more property damage, including but not limited to property damage to the motor vehicle involved, in the course of obtaining control over or in the exercise of control of the motor vehicle; or
(f) Causes bodily injury to another person while he or she is in the exercise of control of the motor vehicle; or
(g) Removes the motor vehicle from this state for a period of time in excess of twelve hours; or
(h) Unlawfully attaches or otherwise displays in or upon the motor vehicle license plates other than those officially issued for the motor vehicle.
(4) A person commits Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft in the second degree if he or she knowingly obtains or exercises control over the motor vehicle of another without authorization or by threat or deception and if none of the aggravating factors in subsection (2) of this section are present.
While it is not made clear in the article, there was no mention of the amount of time, the car had been gone or if it had been altered. Because of this, it seems the man would have been charged with 2nd Degree Aggravated Motor Theft. This crime is charged as either a felony or misdemeanor in Fort Collins, Loveland and Estes Park, depending on the value of the stolen vehicle:
|
1st Degree Aggravated Motor Theft |
|
| Vehicle Value | Charge |
| Less than $20,000 | Class 5 felony |
| $20,000 to $99,999 | Class 4 felony |
| $100,000 or more | Class 3 felony |
| 2nd Degree Aggravated Motor Theft | |
| $20,000 or more | Class 5 felony |
| $1,000 to $19,999 | Class 6 felony |
| Less than $1,000 | Class 1 misdemeanor |
Unless the car was old and pretty broken down, it was probably worth more than $1,000. Because of this, the man will be facing felony charges for the Car Theft.