1/21/26 Centennial, CO – Unmarked Aurora Police Car Was Running In The Driveway Of An Officer – Arapahoe County Deputies Found The Stolen Police Car With Another Stolen Car

January 21, 2026

www.kvdr.com

Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Deputies continue to search for a group of people suspected of stealing multiple vehicles in the Centennial area Wednesday morning.

Two of the stolen vehicles were left puffing, which is leaving a running car unattended.

One of those vehicles was an unmarked Aurora police patrol car.

One person has been arrested in connection with the thefts, a spokesperson for the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office said.

FOX31 was told deputies were still searching for several other suspects late Wednesday.

Because one of the stolen vehicles was an unmarked police car, Aurora police are conducting an internal administrative investigation.

Aurora police confirmed one of the stolen vehicles was an unmarked patrol car that had been left puffing in the officer’s driveway in Centennial around 6 a.m.

Arapahoe County deputies said they recovered the patrol car 15 minutes after it was stolen, while recovering another stolen vehicle.

Deputies believe a group stole several vehicles within 1.5 mile radius near East Smoky Hill Road and South Picadilly Street.

Aurora police told FOX31 the officer’s car was a take-home vehicle and the officer was not on duty when the theft happened.

The department provided FOX31 with its take-home vehicle policy, which states, “City-owned take-home vehicle use is limited to transportation to and from a police facility, responding to a call after duty hours, or attending department-sanctioned training or meetings.”

Aurora police says officers are expected to follow the same puffing precautions as the public.

The Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority says puffing continues to be a major problem.

“While increases in vehicles with remote start and immobilizing features reduce these chances, a lot of vehicles still do not have these features, and obviously, vehicles left running unattended are very easy to spot because of those white clouds of smoke, and there is a big opportunity for thieves to take your vehicle,” Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority spokesman Cale Gould said.

Aurora police say the officer whose unmarked car was stolen while puffing is now under administrative investigation.

The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office says one arrest has been made.

The search for several other suspects continues.