Warning against driveway thefts in winter

DRIVERS are being warned to not leave their cars unattended while warming them up this winter as car theft increases in the colder months.

Thieves find it easy pickings when drivers leave car on driveways with the engine running to heat up the car before leaving home. However, this leads to a rise in car thefts at this time of year, according to research by Tracker.

Stuart Chapman, Police Relationships Manager at Tracker, said: ‘While some of the “frost jacking thefts” are opportunistic, many are planned. Organised gangs will target specific makes and models that are parked out overnight. They will keep watch on the vehicles when the weather is cold waiting for the owner to leave it unattended.’

Chapman added: ‘Modern cars’ security makes them very difficult to steal without the keys, so thieves exploit the cold weather to target those owners who take the risk on a frosty morning.’

Drivers might not realise they could be liable to prosecution by leaving their car unattended with the engine running and insurance firms may not pay out if the car is stolen while left with the keys in it.

By Press Association reporters