Car thefts spiked 20 percent in Colorado in the past year, and have risen 50 percent, adjusted for population growth, since 2014. Carole Walker with the group Coloradans Against Auto Theft tells Colorado Matters that older models of Hondas usually top the list of vehicles stolen most often in the state. Walker tells Colorado Matters host Ryan Warner older models are easier to break into, adding that her group encourages Coloradans to not make themselves easy targets by leaving their cars unlocked.

Walker also says car thefts tend to rise each year in July, and so she advises people to not leave the air conditioning running or the windows open when they step away from the car. She says newer cars with GPS systems may deter thieves, since they know the cars can be tracked. There is good news, too: Walker says about 90 percent of stolen cars in Colorado are recovered.

These models are stolen most often, according to Coloradans Against Auto Theft, a partnership of law enforcement agencies, insurance companies, and others:

Honda Accord

(Courtesy of Wikimedia Honda Accord

Honda Civic

(Courtesy of Wikimedia Honda Civic

Dodge Ram pickup

(Courtesy of Wikimedia Dodge Ram

Ford F250

Ford F250

Ford F150