Frosty morning car thief warning (From Cotswold Journal)
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Frosty morning car thief warning
5:24pm Wednesday 9th January 2013 in News
Frosty morning car thief warning
WITH temperatures set to drop below freezing tonight, police are warning county drivers not to leave their cars unattended with engines running in the morning.
Every winter, the force receives call from drivers who have had their cars stolen after leaving their keys in the engine, whilst they wait in the warmth of their home for the car to heat up and defrost the windscreen.
Mike Stephenson of the force said: "You wouldn't usually leave your car unlocked, unattended and with the keys in it, so why risk it in winter for the sake of a few minutes to heat your car up?
"That's all the time it takes for an opportunistic thief to drive off with your vehicle whilst you're waiting inside keeping warm.
"Despite repeated warnings, drivers continue to leave their cars unattended on driveways or on the street outside their properties in order to de-ice them. "Nobody seems to think it's going to happen to them but every winter we receive calls from people who are caught unawares by car thieves when their backs are turned.
"We haven't had too many frosty mornings so far this autumn and winter, but now the colder weather is catching up with us, I would urge drivers to heed this advice."
Mike added that drivers who ignore the warning are taking big risks. He said: "Thieves will drive around residential areas looking for likely targets - when they spot a vehicle with its engine left running on a drive or outside a home, it's there for the taking.
"One person will be dropped off, gets into the target vehicle and simply drives away. "Many of the vehicles are never recovered, and some - especially high value models- may be shipped overseas.
"It is also worth remembering if your car is stolen when keys have been left in it, you may find your insurance will not cover you.
"Thieves see frosty mornings as an opportunity - don't give them the satisfaction by taking unnecessary risks."
Anyone with information about car thefts should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Comments(6)
TDH123
says...
7:17pm Wed 9 Jan 13
Argh!!
says...
5:20am Thu 10 Jan 13
Mine go in the ignition!!
New Kid on the Block
says...
8:41am Thu 10 Jan 13
Guy66
says...
10:25am Thu 10 Jan 13
New Kid on the Block wrote:You are still leaving yourself wide open to a car thief. One brick through the window, one press of the door release button on the key and any dead locks and 'security' you thought were in place are gone. All in all about another 2 seconds to the overall theft. And as already stated an insurance company will use the 'key in the ignition' excuse to cancel your insurance.
When the engine is running the electronic key will probably be disabled. Just put the key in the door and lock it mechanically. Works for me without immobilising anything.
New Kid on the Block
says...
2:05pm Thu 10 Jan 13
Guy66 wrote:As I said originally,
New Kid on the Block wrote:You are still leaving yourself wide open to a car thief. One brick through the window, one press of the door release button on the key and any dead locks and 'security' you thought were in place are gone. All in all about another 2 seconds to the overall theft. And as already stated an insurance company will use the 'key in the ignition' excuse to cancel your insurance.
When the engine is running the electronic key will probably be disabled. Just put the key in the door and lock it mechanically. Works for me without immobilising anything.
"Not perfect as a determined thief can still break a window and steal your car but better than leaving it open. If you have a steering wheel lock or something similar use it."
New Kid on the Block says...
7:01pm Wed 9 Jan 13
If you are going to leave the car running to defrost use the second set to lock it.
Not perfect as a determined thief can still break a window and steal your car but better than leaving it open. If you have a steering wheel lock or something similar use it.
Please don't do what is all too common and drive off without defrosting the windows properly.