The most stolen cars in metro Denver so far in 2022

Car theft is skyrocketing to new heights.

Why it matters: The problem has grown so severe that the Denver metro ranked worst in the country for stolen vehicles in 2021, with an average of 75 cars nabbed daily, according to a recent report from the Metropolitan Auto Theft Task Force.

Driving the news: Now, officials report the rate for the first three months of 2022 is on pace to surpass last year's alarming record.

• Denver metro residents have reported at least 2,998 cars stolen between January and the end of March.

State of play: Metro Denver recorded 27,409 stolen vehicles in 2021, marking a 39% increase compared with 2020's "unprecedented" jump of 107%, the report found.

• The largest spikes occurred in smaller jurisdictions like Cherry Hills Village, Lakeside and Lone Tree.
• Of note: Nearly 75% of automobiles swiped in metro Denver last year were recovered by law enforcement within 30 days.

So far, the top stolen vehicles in 2022 are:

• Chevrolet Silverado (454)
• Kia Sportage (361)
• Kia Optima (354)
• Hyundai Sonata (352)
• Hyundai Elantra (312)
• Hyundai Tucson (296)
• Ford F-250 (279)
• Honda Civic (204)
• GMC Sierra (200)
• Honda Accord (186)

Be smart: Officials urge car owners to lock their vehicles, roll up their windows, invest in anti-theft devices and report suspicious behavior.