Leader of auto thefts from Colorado airport lots sentenced to prison

A 25-year-old man whom police believe oversaw the theft of dozens of vehicles from the parking lots at Denver International Airport recently pleaded guilty and received a 20-year prison sentence. 
David Nava-Delgado led a “prolific” group that stole at least 59 vehicles from DIA lots between February 2022 and March 2023, according to prosecutors. The group often took Ford F-150 Raptors which they drove into the fronts of businesses to steal ATMs. They attempted or completed this type of burglary 31 times, per prosecutors. 
The group also stole vehicles in Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Boulder, Denver, Jefferson County, and Logan County. Jeep Grand Cherokees, Dodge Challengers, and Dodge Chargers were also popular models to the thieves. Typically, the group used reprogrammed key key fobs to access the vehicles. Once inside and underway, they would also disable the vehicle’s GPS tracking system to avoid apprehension, per prosecutors.
Nava-Delgado escaped authorities seeral times. He once led police on a high-speed chase while driving a stolen Grand Cherokee. Other members of his crew were alongside in a stolen F-150 and jumped in Nava-Delgado’s Jeep, leaving behind handguns, blank sets of keys and key fobs inside the Ford. 
Nava-Delgado was also identified as the driver of a stolen Dodge Charger that was used as a getaway car in the course of a burglary. 
He was also connected to the crash of a stolen Ford F150 in Thornton. The driver of that truck fled the scene, but Nava-Delgado’s DNA was found on the airbag, according to prosecutors. Again, a stash of vehicle keys and key fobs was found in the truck. 
In October 2023, the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office (Adams/Broomfield, CO), the Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority, and the CATPA Metropolitan Auto Theft Task Force announced a 121-count indictment against Nava-Delgado and a dozen other alleged thieves. 
“Someone should be able to leave a car at the airport, go on a trip, return, and not be worried that their car won’t be in the parking lot when they get back,” 17th Judicial District Attorney Brian Mason told CBS News Colorado at that time.  
CBS News Colorado spoke to one traveler whose Ford F-350 was stolen from the airport East Economy Lot during the time Nava-Delgado’s group was active. 
“I always felt like it was a safe place,” Chad Raabe said. “I mean, I guess now I see it as false advertising – the barricade arm and you got the license plate reader you get the picture of the license plate and they advertise a safe place to park 24/7 surveillance, all this stuff.”
The recent arrests appear to be working, at least statistically. According to data from the Colorado Metropolitan Auto Theft Task Force, or C-MATT, there has been a 28% reduction in motor vehicle thefts statewide from 2023 to 2024. There has also been a 30% decrease in the Denver Metro area year over year as well as a 55% decrease at Denver International Airport.  
“This defendant was a principal player in a massive scheme to steal cars from Denver International Airport and now he’s going to prison,” Mason stated after Nava-Delgado’s sentencing. “When Colorado saw a massive increase in motor vehicle thefts, we set out to curb the spike – and we’ve succeeded.”
“The severity of the sentence given to David Nava-Delgado demonstrates the magnitude of the harm he and his associates caused the greater Denver community,” added C-MATT Commander John Pickard.
Nava-Delgado pleaded guilty Oct. 14 to one count of organized crime and two counts of felony auto theft. He will serve his 20-year sentence at the same time he serves another COCCA (organized crime) conviction in Larimer County which the Colorado Attorney General’s Office brought against him.
Last week, Texas authorities announced the arrest of the ringleader of a group that is blamed for 52 auto thefts from the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. The value of the vehicles stolen amounted to near $5 million, according to police. According to court documents, the thieves would change Vehicle Identification Numbers, illegally retitle the cars, and then sell them, and often take them across the border to Mexico. The operation was referred to as nationwide.
When asked if there was a connection to Colorado’s group, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Colorado District refused to comment.