COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Colorado is the state with the highest risk of car theft, according to 2023 data from the National Insurance Crime Bureau. The Centennial State is only beaten by Washington, D.C.

In 2023, 32,976 vehicles were stolen in Colorado according to Colorado State Patrol . That’s a 21% decrease from 2022, which law enforcement attributes to tougher penalties for car thieves.

Bottom line: About nine cars are stolen every day in Colorado Springs, and more than four cars are stolen every day in Pueblo.

It can happen in just six seconds, according to former car thief Hondo Underwood.

“Any vehicle was really an opportunity,” said Underwood, who was responsible for the theft of “hundreds” of vehicles.

He got arrested, served his time and now helps law enforcement teach the public how to protect cars.

“If I wanted to, I could steal 15 to 20 cars in one night. I would do it in your backyard,” he said.

Watch our full interview with Underwood below:

Larger trucks, like F-150s and Suburbans, brought Underwood more profit, but Kias and Hondas had “simpler safety systems.”

His habits are reflected by data collected by the Colorado State Patrol:

Underwood, who first got into car theft to pay for his drug habit, was arrested in 2017. This was his chance to break up for good.

“To this day, I thank the police officers who arrested me, because they saved my life. I always knew I wanted to start my own family. I came from a broken home and I always wanted to provide for a family, and I do I do my best to be that person.

So how can you protect your vehicle? Underwood said parking in your garage, if you have one, is one of the best deterrents. If you must park outside, doing so under a light can help, but it’s not foolproof. It is essential to remove all items, including garage door openers. If you have a key ring, place it in a signal blocker pouch at night so thieves can’t use a repeater amplifier to impersonate your remote starter and gain access to it.

If potential thieves break into your car, installing a “kill switch” can also prevent the car’s ignition from turning on unless the switch itself is also turned on.

The Colorado State Patrol also offers steering wheel locksprimarily from their Lakewood headquarters.

See more from the 2023 CSP report here.