Early Tuesday morning, Pueblo Police Department (PPD) announced a successful recovery operation that returned two stolen Kia vehicles and more than ten stolen or swapped license plates to their rightful owners. The department emphasized that the rapid response underscores its dedication to keeping Pueblo neighborhoods safe.
Initial discovery on East 13th Street
At approximately 1:04 a.m. on September 22, officers responded to a call near East 13th Street and North Fountain Avenue. There, they found an unoccupied gray Kia Sorento that had been reported stolen earlier. Inside the vehicle, police discovered several license plates, including multiple plates that had been listed as stolen.
Second stolen Sorento reported
During the investigation, PPD received a separate report that another Kia Sorento had been taken from a parking garage in the 1600 block of Court Street. Officers located the second vehicle near East 4th Street and North Glendale Avenue. When they attempted to stop the car, the driver accelerated and fled at high speed. For safety reasons, officers elected not to pursue the fleeing vehicle, and the second Sorento remains missing.
Stolen Optima and returned plate
In the same parking garage, police found a white Kia Optima with its rear license plate mounted upside down. The plate had also been reported stolen. Investigation revealed that the plate originally belonged to a driver in Pueblo West and was later returned to that owner. PPD confirmed that the returned plate matched one of the plates found in the first stolen Kia.
Community impact and next steps
The recovery of the stolen license plates helps prevent further misuse, such as fraudulent registrations or traffic violations. PPD is continuing its investigation into the missing second Sorento and urges anyone with information about the vehicle or its driver to contact the department.
Residents are reminded to report suspicious activity promptly and to verify that their vehicle registration information is up to date. The department also encourages the community to stay informed through the KRDO13 app, available for download on both Apple App Store and Google Play.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
