Car thefts at Denver International Airport got out of control over the past few years. By 2023, authorities reported 734 vehicles stolen. But DIA and local authorities rolled out several strategies to better protect travelers’ cars. This year, that number dropped to just 76.
DIA took several tactics you might have expected. It contracted more security personnel, and the Denver Police Department began patrolling the lots. The airport also installed hundreds of security cameras, including 90 in a single lot. But it added a few novel solutions, too.
A coordinated approach to stopping Denver Airport crime
Security personnel at DIA now have access to stolen vehicle databases. So if you steal another vehicle to anonymously enter the airport and commit a crime spree, security will intercept you before you get far.
Local law enforcement also began treating the thefts as interconnected. They investigated potential crime rings and found one crew allegedly stole 190 vehicles from the airport. Another took 59…