Car thefts on the rise

Car thefts are on the rise in Grand Junction and Montrose. According to police, those are two of the hot spots on the Western Slope.

So far this year GJPD has received a total of 125 reported stolen cars and 230 thefts from automobiles. The latest numbers show a slight uptick in the number of cars stolen. A lot of these are what police call crimes of opportunity.

"Make sure that your windows are rolled up, which certainly in the heat of the summer people like to leave that crack for ventilation. Even worse, maybe leave their car running or unattended so they can leave the air conditioning on, it's dangerous,” says Grand Junction Police Department Information Coordinator, Heidi Davidson.

Make sure to park in well-lit areas, making sure your doors are locked and that you aren't leaving any personal belongings in sight in your car.