Serving Lakewood, Wheat Ridge and beyond
WEEK OF FEBRUARY 13, 2025
VOLUME 41 | ISSUE 28
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Nearly 4,000 cars protected. Zero thefts. Could this be the ultimate anti-theft solution?
BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
SCHOOLS OUTLINE PLANS AMID ICE ENFORCEMENT
P4
AN INSPIRED ADVENTURE
P10
WESTMINSTER BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
MINES WOMEN LOOK TO FINISH STRONG P16
2025
MINSTER VOTING STARTS
With Colorado ranking as the worst state in the nation for auto thefts, Lakewood police set out to find a proactive solution to protect residents and recover stolen vehicles more quickly, according to Russell Johnson, an investigative technician with the Lakewood Police Theft Investigation Team. Department leadership tasked the team, which includes detectives, analysts and technicians, with developing the Auto Theft Reduction & Recovery program. The initiative has since been recognized in the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin as a model for other agencies. “Auto theft has real and serious impacts for our community,” Lakewood Police Chief Philip Smith said. “On an individual level, it causes financial hardship and takes away the victim’s transportation. It also demands a great deal of law enforcement resources, and it affects premiums we all pay for auto insurance.”
WINDOW
VOICES: 8 | LIFE: 10 | CALENDAR: 13 | SPORTS: 16
The fight over a controversial proposed apartment complex near Belmar Park is escalating as frustrated residents have reached out to the city council, and parkland advocate Cathy Kentner has moved to formally intervene in a lawsuit filed by developers against the city last December. Members of Save Belmar Park, a citizen-led group advocating for the preservation of open space, argue the City of Lakewood has failed to defend a citizenled ordinance the council adopted after the group submitted the required number of signatures, leaving residents in opposition to the move no choice but to step in. The lawsuit began when Kairoi Residential, developers of a planned 412-unit luxury apartment building at Belmar Park, sued the city, claiming the 2024 ordinance, which prevents developers from paying fees instead of dedicating land for parks, violates state law. On Jan. 14, a Jefferson County judge granted Kairoi a preliminary injunction, allowing the apartment project to proceed while the case progresses. Lakewood didn’t oppose Kairoi’s request for the injunction, leading some residents to believe this inaction signaled to the court that the ordinance had little legal standing. Now, they’re asking a judge to let them intervene. Earlier this month, Kentner filed a motion to intervene in the Belmar Park lawsuit, arguing that the city is not adequately defending the parkland ordinance.
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Lakewood police thinks so.
MARCH 1!
Residents step in over Belmar Park lawsuit
The department launched a simple but effective program to address the issue: distributing Apple AirTags and Tile trackers to residents. These devices allow residents to monitor their vehicles and share location data with police if their cars are stolen. Johnson said the effort reduced thefts and significantly increased chances of a quick recovery and offered a cost-effective, community-driven approach to combating a growing crime trend. Nearly 4,000 vehicles, zero thefts
During the first six months of the rollout, Lakewood officers reported: More than 1,500 vehicles were enrolled, and only one was stolen. It was recovered within 24 hours. By the end of the one-year program, nearly 4,000 vehicles were protected, and none were reported stolen. SEE AUTO THEFT, P31
SEE LAWSUIT, P7
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