Street Racing Update
Illegal street racing was a hot topic at the recent Commanders Meeting, and I am pleased to report that progress is being made. In addition to calling the non-emergency number, (720) 913-2000 Ext. 0, the Denver Police Department (DPD) requests that residents report street racing at the following website, reportstreetracing.com, as it puts the call out at large, allowing officers in different districts to be proactive as crews move from site to site.
Q. What’s happening with the warehouses?
Police are working with warehouse owners, asking them to block parking lots. However, in some cases, lots must remain open for deliveries throughout the night. In these cases, no trespassing signs are being installed, as this allows the police to arrest suspects on trespassing charges and impound their vehicles.
Q. Why don’t police officers chase racers leaving the parking lots?
Citizens have noticed officers don’t gave chase to fleeing racers, and this is to save lives, as engaging in high-speed chases can result in injury and or death. Often times, the vehicles have been identified already, and the owners arrested at a later date, in fact, dozens have been arrested in recent months for illegal activity.
Q. What penalties are being assessed to discourage the illegal street races?
An operation was recently completed, some details of which remain classified, wherein police tracked street racers from location to location, resulting in multiple arrests. These cases are being escalated through the justice system.
Q. What is the best way to report illegal street racing, specifically, what number should be called?
Call the non-emergency number, (720) 913-2000 Ext. 0, and the Denver Police Department (DPD) dispatch will upgrade the call. The DPD uses undercover resources, as well as vehicles that can read license plates, and more speed enforcement, throughout the day, is coming.
Q. Why are police officers parking in the warehouse lots during the day, but not at night during races?
Police officers have been using the parking lots to conduct business during the day, making their presence known in the area, and are spread thin at night when more crimes occur. That said, they are well aware of the ongoing problem, which stretches from Fort Collins in the North to Colorado Springs in the South, and are working to diminish the threat it poses to the health and safety of the community.
Q. What is happening with all the car theft in and around Central Park? Why are there so many break-ins?
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, non-violent offenders are not jailed, so when a car thief is arrested he or she is promptly back on the street working to steal more vehicles and or simply break-in to unlocked cars looking for valuables. To be sure, the vast majority of cars that have been robbed were left unlocked. This is why leaving a car to idle in the cold, i.e., “puffing” is so problematic, so don’t be surprised if you receive a ticket for letting your car idle in a public space, or on private property.