Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft

Under Section 18-4-409, a person commits aggravated motor vehicle theft in the first degree if they take or operate the vehicle of another person without the person’s permission or by threat or fraud and:

• retain possession of the vehicle for more than 24 hours; or
• try to disguise or disguises the motor vehicle; or
• try to remove or removes the vehicle identification number; or
• use the vehicle to commit a crime; or
• cause $500 or more in property damage to the vehicle when trying to steal it; or
• injure another person while driving the vehicle; or
• drive the vehicle outside of Colorado for more than 12 hours; or
• attach another license plate to the vehicle that is not associated with the vehicle.

Aggravated motor vehicle theft in the first degree is a:

• class 5 felony if the value of the vehicle is less than $20,000;
• class 4 felony if the value of the vehicle is more than $20,000 but less than $100,000;
• class 3 felony if the value of the vehicle is more than $100,000 or if the defendant has been convicted of an offense involving motor vehicle theft twice before in Colorado or another state or U.S. territory.

Chop Shop Activity

Chop shop activity involves possessing, receiving, storing, taking apart, or changing a stolen motor vehicle or stolen major component motor vehicle part for the purpose of using, selling, or disposing of the motor vehicle or part.   Major component motor vehicle parts include, among other things, the engine, transmission, catalytic converter, wheels, tires, or bumpers.  A chop shop is usually the place where stolen motor vehicles or parts are stored, disassembled, or changed.

The crime of ownership or operation of a chop shop involves any person who:

• owns or operates a chop shop;
• transports a stolen motor vehicle or part to or from a known chop shop;
• sells or transfers to or purchases or receives from a known chop shop a stolen motor vehicle or part;
• or works with another person related to these acts. 

Owning or operating a chop shop is a class 4 felony resulting in a fine of $2,000 to $500,000.  Transporting a stolen motor vehicle or part and selling or transferring a stolen motor vehicle part is a class 5 felony.  Altering or removing a vehicle identification number, manufacturer number, or engine number intending to misrepresent the identity of the motor vehicle or part is a class 5 felony.  Class 5 felonies result in a fine of $1,000 to $100,000.