What to do when something is stolen in Colorado

Colorado at a glance

Statute text checked on law.justia.com. Laws change; confirm the current version before relying on it.

Colorado by the numbers

These figures count reports made to federal agencies, so they measure what was reported, not every theft. National context is on the theft statistics page.

Reporting a theft in Colorado

Colorado pairs online reporting in its largest cities with a state program that helps car theft victims with the costs that follow. Report to the police department or sheriff where the theft happened; the Colorado State Patrol covers state highways and administers the state's auto theft program.

Online reporting is limited to non-violent cases with no suspect information:

• Denver: the online police report excludes stolen vehicles and lost or stolen firearms, which go through the non-emergency line.
• Colorado Springs: the online system takes thefts of property, bicycles, auto parts, license plates and engineless trailers, but not burglaries, firearms, or stolen cards that have already been used.

Call 911 for a crime in progress. Keep your report number for insurers and lenders.

Colorado theft law and the felony threshold

Under C.R.S. § 18-4-401, theft becomes a felony at $2,000. Colorado grades theft in eight value bands:

• Under $300: petty offense.
• $300 to under $1,000: class 2 misdemeanor.
• $1,000 to under $2,000: class 1 misdemeanor.
• $2,000 to under $5,000: class 6 felony.
• $5,000 to under $20,000: class 5 felony.
• $20,000 to under $100,000: class 4 felony.
• $100,000 to under $1,000,000: class 3 felony.
• $1,000,000 or more: class 2 felony.

Theft of a firearm is a class 6 felony regardless of value. The statute was most recently amended in 2025. Accurate values, with receipts and serial numbers, can move a case from one band to the next. This is general information; prosecutors decide the actual charge.

Stolen vehicles and license plates in Colorado

Colorado charges motor vehicle theft separately under C.R.S. § 18-4-409, and under the current statute, last amended effective July 1, 2023, the grade does not depend on the vehicle's value. Third-degree theft is a class 5 felony; aggravating factors such as keeping the vehicle more than 24 hours, altering its VIN or taking it out of state make it second degree, a class 4 felony; two prior convictions make it first degree, a class 3 felony.

Before buying a used vehicle, run its year and VIN through the state's Motor Vehicle Verification System, which checks the Colorado Crime Information Center stolen vehicle file. It does not search plates, and a clear result is not a guarantee.

Victims can also look to the Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority (CATPA), run by the State Patrol through Lock Down Your Car. A State Patrol grant program announced in 2024 helps eligible Colorado residents with secondary costs such as alternative transportation, towing and storage, cleaning, theft-related repairs and anti-theft devices. Ask the Colorado DMV about plates and title. See our stolen vehicle guide.

Pawn shops and secondhand sales

Colorado sets pawn rules in state law. Under C.R.S. § 29-11.9-103, pawnbrokers give local law enforcement weekly records of property they accepted, with the customer's declaration of ownership. Pawned goods must be held ten days after the contract matures, and purchased goods 30 days, kept separate and unaltered. That window is when police can find your property, so report quickly with serial numbers. See our stolen property guide.

Identity theft and fraud help in Colorado

The Attorney General's Stop Fraud Colorado site explains common scams, has an identity theft section, and links to the office's complaint form for the Consumer Protection Section. File with the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov. Gun owners have five days to report a lost or stolen firearm; see the stolen firearm guide and our identity theft guide.

Checklists for what was stolen

Each guide opens with a checklist in the order to act, with a free printable PDF.

• Domain names
• Identity theft
• Vehicles
• Social media and email
• SIM swap and phone numbers
• Stolen phones
• Bicycles and e-bikes
• Packages and mail
• Wallets, cards and checks
• Passports
• Firearms
• Art and collectibles
• Cryptocurrency

This page is general information about Colorado, not legal advice. For your situation, consult an attorney licensed in Colorado.