Cheyenne Police Department: Lock Up Before Saddling Up

The Cheyenne Police Department is warning people to lock their cars during Cheyenne Frontier Days and to never leave firearms and other valuables unattended.

According to a CPD news release, auto burglaries are up by almost 50 percent so far this year in the city compared to last year.

Officers have investigated 233 auto burglaries this year, compared to 156 over the same time in 2022.

But police are dealing with an even bigger increase in firearm thefts, which are up by a whopping 81 percent. CPD has investigated 67 gun thefts so far in 2023 compared to 37 but this same time last year.

In the words of the release:

'Force is rarely used when a vehicle is broken into, many recent incidents have occurred in hotel parking lots where vehicles were left unlocked, and firearms were easily accessible. This problem has a simple solution; do not use your car as a gun safe, and make sure that your firearm is always secured and never left unattended.''

The release goes on to quote the police chief: “It is important for citizens to remain vigilant, especially during large events,” said Chief Mark Francisco. “These crimes are preventable and often result in suspects engaging in other criminal activity with a stolen vehicle or property."

The CPD offers free gun locks to the public. You can get them at the front desk of the Public Safety Center on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Auto burglaries have been a problem in Cheyenne for many years, but the problem is apparently only getting worse according to the latest statistics.