News Sheet

Colorado’s Got a Fob Theft Epidemic Now, Apparently

Close of modern car keychain fob.
Close of modern car keychain fob.
Written by Scott K. James

Car thieves in Colorado have leveled up—now they’re cloning your key fob. Tech-savvy crime meets bureaucratic disbelief.

Car thieves in Colorado just brought their A-game—or at least their USB sticks. According to KDVR, our fine state is now seeing a rise in vehicle theft based on key fob cloning. Yep, your car can get jacked by someone who gets within sniffing distance of your keys and digitally hijacks your ride. The story quotes the Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority (you probably didn’t know that was a thing either), sounding the alarm and offering tips like using signal-blocking pouches. Because apparently tinfoil hats weren’t enough.

The Bullet Point Brief

  • Criminals are copying your key fob’s signal and driving off like it’s Grand Theft Auto: Denver Edition.
  • The solution? Buy a metal pouch for your keys—because of course it’s on you to stop the bad guys, not the justice system.
  • The agency helping fight this is called CATPA…which frankly sounds more like a cat food brand than law enforcement.
  • They tout “education campaigns” as prevention tools. Translation: be scared and buy more stuff.

My Bottom Line

Car thieves are out here running cyber ops in parking lots while elected officials think “comprehensive policy reform” means renaming streets after activists. Meanwhile, real folks are losing their cars faster than Joe Biden loses track of what state he’s in. Now we need Faraday cages for our damn keychains? What are we parking—classified spy vehicles?

Instead of pushing yet another PSA or handing out brochures that’ll end up lining bird cages, maybe it’s time we asked why theft keeps getting easier while consequences keep getting softer. These bad guys aren’t geniuses—they’re just walking through the open doors left by policymakers too afraid to enforce anything that resembles accountability.

Here’s a wild idea: start putting criminals behind bars instead of putting law-abiding citizens in high-tech hamster wheels to protect themselves. Let law enforcement do their jobs without getting sued for doing them. And maybe stop acting shocked when career criminals act like… well, career criminals. Keep watching your wallets and your wireless signals, folks—the 21st-century thief doesn’t need a crowbar; just Wi-Fi and weak laws.

About the author

Scott K. James

A 4th generation Northern Colorado native, Scott K. James is a veteran broadcaster, professional communicator, and principled leader. Widely recognized for his thoughtful, common-sense approach to addressing issues that affect families, businesses, and communities, Scott, his wife, Julie, and son, Jack, call Johnstown, Colorado, home. A former mayor of Johnstown, James is a staunch defender of the Constitution and the rule of law, the free market, and the power of the individual. Scott has delighted in a lifetime of public service and continues that service as a Weld County Commissioner representing District 2.