Car thefts in Colorado are on track to outpace every other state in the country for a second straight year, and public safety experts say the crimes are also growing more violent.

Driving the news: Just over a week ago, a Denver officer was shot in the back of the neck after apprehending a suspect who allegedly stole a car.

• A Denver man accused of stealing a Jeep on Sunday in Lakewood crashed the vehicle into an ambulance, injuring four people — including two firefighters. The man later told police he was forced by a female passenger to drive the vehicle at gunpoint.
• A month earlier, an officer in Lafayette was shot in the leg at a gas station by a suspect in a stolen car. The alleged shooter was killed by police gunfire in the front seat.

What they're saying: Criminals appear emboldened, intentionally firing guns to distract police or smashing into vehicles to flee, Mike Greenwell, commander of the Colorado Metropolitan Auto Theft Task Force, told 9News.

By the numbers: As of Dec. 5, auto theft in Denver had skyrocketed to 71% for the year, compared with the city's three-year average, according to police department data.

• At least 13,911 cars in Denver have been reported stolen by local law enforcement so far this year, compared with the previous peak of 11,758 in all of 2021.

State of play: Arrests aren't keeping up with the state's vehicular robbery rate, data shows.

• In the first six months of 2022, Colorado's arrest rate per motor vehicle theft was 9.4%, down from 15.5% in 2019, per a recent report from the Common Sense Institute.

Keep reading ... what's next

Holiday shoppers at Denver's Cherry Creek mall may notice "coming soon" signs propped up around the area.

What's happening: A $1 billion mixed-use development plan is underway to transform 13 acres — including the mostly vacant west end of the shopping center.

• The project, dubbed Cherry Creek West, is led by local developers East West Partners — the master developer behind the Union Station neighborhood and Riverfront Park.

Why it matters: The plan could change Cherry Creek's reputation as an upscale area for eating and shopping to one of a destination that prioritizes economic diversity and green space.

Details: Cherry Creek West will span from University Boulevard to Clayton Street and First Avenue to the Cherry Creek waterway.

• Blueprints include a "public plaza" with green space for concerts and events, a market square, seven buildings with office, residential and retail space, a dedicated two-way bike track, and above- and below-ground parking.
• A section of Cherry Creek Drive may also be buried, which would allow a wildlife overpass and connect Cherry Creek West with the waterway and nearby trails.

The other side ... what's next

After purchasing a former college campus last year for $30 million to expand the Denver School of the Arts, Denver Public Schools says it needs additional money for initial campus renovations.

Driving the news: The district wants the school board to approve $6.6 million this month to complete the improvements.

• The district already set aside $10 million to renovate the former site of Johnson & Wales University, and cites increased construction costs for seeking additional money.

Why it matters: School principal Anthony McWright said renovations are critical for the district's plan to improve student diversity and would add an exploratory track for students who are still developing their skills.

• DSA is nearly 70% white, while the district as a whole is about 25% white.

Yes, but: At least one school board member, Scott Baldermann, has expressed concerns about the potential expansion, alluding to declining enrollment and attempts to close other schools in the district.

Go deeper with our partners at Chalkbeat

🚩 The FBI revealed yesterday that it received a tip about the suspected Club Q shooter a day before his 2021 arrest for threatening to kill family members. It was previously reported that authorities learned of the suspect after those threats were made. (AP)

👎 RTD's latest annual surveys show satisfaction levels with the transit system have worsened among riders and residents this year. The slide in performance cost RTD leader Debra Johnson a pay raise in 2023. (Denver Post)

👀 A new analysis from the Conservative Political Action Committee ranks Colorado among the least conservative states. The state was listed as No. 39, up several points from its No. 32 spot in 2020. (Colorado Politics)

💼 Morgan Carroll, chair of the Colorado Democratic Party, will not pursue a fourth term. Carroll, who has presided over the party since 2017, will step down in April. (Colorado Sun)

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Is it really almost 2023?

Reality check: Somehow, yes — and it's fast approaching. Here's a collection of events to help you ring in the new year:

• New Year's Eve Fireworks: This family-friendly show includes two fireworks displays, one at 9pm and another at midnight, along the 16th Street Mall. Music begins at 8pm and runs through midnight. Tickets: Free.
• Ophelia's Electric Soapbox: The Y2K Dance Party will harken back to 1999, and it all kicks off at 9pm. Tickets: Starting at $48.
• BookBar: The bookstore bids farewell with this final bash it's dubbing the Introvert's New Year's Eve, which will include hors d'oeuvres, a champagne toast and advance reader copies of soon-to-be released books. Tickets: $50.

Seven more places to celebrate

The ski train returns in 2023 and tickets are now on sale.

Why it matters: The Amtrak ride from Union Station to Winter Park Resort travels through the Moffat Tunnel under the Continental Divide and is one of the most unique experiences in Colorado.

What to know: The train runs Friday through Sunday, Jan. 13 through March 26. One-way fares start at $34, with kids aged 2-12 paying $17.