Screenshot / YouTube, FOX31 Denver, Cropped by Resist the Mainstream

A Denver mother took swift action to reclaim her stolen vehicle on Monday when faced with the news that police weren't immediately available to assist.

Holly Kaufman recounted how she utilized her car company's mobile app, featuring a vehicle tracker, to locate her missing red Mazda SUV, Fox KDVR reports.

Not only did the app provide tracking capabilities, but it also enabled Kaufman to deactivate the vehicle's engine and activate emergency alarms, tools she promptly utilized.

Upon contacting 911 to report the theft, Kaufman was met with the disheartening news that due to a lack of available officers, the police department couldn't dispatch immediate assistance.

Despite warnings from the dispatcher advising against taking matters into her own hands, Kaufman, driven by past experiences of vehicle theft, opted to take action herself rather than risk further loss.

“She (the dispatcher) is like, ‘Ma’am, you are going to put yourself in danger,'” Kaufman recounted. “She said they don’t have anyone on duty to help me right now, so I said, 'OK, this is the address I’m going to be at, I’m going to be there in five minutes and you can either meet me or I’ll be getting my car.'”

Remarkably, Kaufman successfully located her stolen vehicle parked at a Safeway parking lot within just 15 minutes of it being taken. Upon inspecting her recovered car, Kaufman discovered items inside, including a pipe, alcohol, and receipts from returns made earlier that morning, which she promptly handed over to authorities.

Expressing her feelings of violation and frustration, Kaufman emphasized her determination to retrieve her vehicle in the absence of immediate police assistance.

“I just feel super violated, and at that point in time, there is nothing that was going to change my mind, I was getting my car, I knew they didn’t have time, so I just got it myself,” she asserted. “I’m not advising people to do what I did, but at some point, something needs to change.”

Reflecting on her past experience with vehicle theft, Kaufman detailed the devastating aftermath of such crimes, including extensive damage and drug-related issues.

“In the past, I've had a vehicle stolen and they rip out your whole car, tear everything up, try to live in it and put drugs in it,” Kaufman recounted to Fox KDVR. “I'm a working mom and it's hard nowadays to make car payments,” she added. “This is a car that I carry my 4-year-old son in, so I'm like, 'This not happening in my car.'”

While Kaufman's actions proved successful in this instance, the Denver Police Department emphasizes against individuals taking matters into their own hands and encourages victims of crime to await police assistance.

While Kaufman's actions proved successful in this instance, the Denver Police Department emphasizes against individuals taking matters into their own hands and encourages victims of crime to await police assistance. Additionally, they suggest registering for programs like DenverTrack, particularly for vehicles equipped with GPS trackers, to expedite the recovery process.