Can someone accidentally steal a car? It sounds far-fetched, but apparently it can happen! Recently I came across a news story that explained how an accidental theft can occur. According to the report, a woman’s Subaru went missing one day and surveillance video showed a person getting into the vehicle, sitting in the car for a few minutes, and then driving off. It seemed weird that in the midst of a theft, the thief would take their time to just hang out in the car before taking off, but that’s exactly what the video showed. The next day when the woman’s husband when to take the trash out, he found a police car had stopped his wife’s car right in front of their home. The woman inside the car had an interesting story to tell, which she was going to explain through a note she planned to leave in the car. The note explained that the woman had sent her friend to pick up her Subaru, which was actually one block over, and the friend accidentally took the wrong Subaru. Police validated that sometimes older Subaru keys work in different cars. The ‘thief’ planned to leave the apology note, which disclosed her information, along with some gas money to make up for the incident. I guess you really can accidentally steal a car!
Weld County Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft Lawyer: What is the Definition of Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft?
The Colorado law definition of Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft – C.R.S. 18-4-409 – is:
(a) Retains possession or control of the motor vehicle for more than twenty-four hours; or
(b) Attempts to alter or disguise or alters or disguises the appearance of the motor vehicle; or
(c) Attempts to alter or remove or alters or removes the vehicle identification number; or
(d) Uses the motor vehicle in the commission of a crime other than a traffic offense; or
(e) Causes five hundred dollars or more property damage, including but not limited to property damage to the motor vehicle involved, in the course of obtaining control over or in the exercise of control of the motor vehicle; or
(f) Causes bodily injury to another person while he or she is in the exercise of control of the motor vehicle; or
(g) Removes the motor vehicle from this state for a period of time in excess of twelve hours; or
(h) Unlawfully attaches or otherwise displays in or upon the motor vehicle license plates other than those officially issued for the motor vehicle.
Thankfully the woman in the story above did not get charged with a crime for her accidental car mix-up. However, often times in Weld, Morgan, and Logan County, accidents can still result with criminal charges. Technically, the friend did commit a Theft by taking someone else’ s vehicle without authorization. If you take a car without permission and keep it for more than 24 hours, you can face an Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft charge, a felony in Greeley, Erie, and Evans.
If you or someone you love has been charged with Aggravated Motor Vehicle Theft, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact the best criminal defense attorneys from the O’Malley Law Office at 970-616-6009 today. Together, we can protect your future.
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