Car Stolen From Outside Redditch Shop After Engine Left Running

Police are reminding drivers never to leave their keys in the ignition after a car was stolen from outside a convenience store.

It happened in Bromsgrove Road, Redditch, at 6.40pm yesterday, Thursday 29 December.

The owner, a man in his 50s, parked his blue Ford Ka, registration number CD04 YLL, outside PJ's convenient store in Bromsgrove Road. He left the keys in the ignition and the engine running while he popped into the shop but as he was paying for his goods he realised three youths dressed in dark clothing had got in and were driving off in the direction of Birchfield Road.

West Mercia Police's Crime Reduction Officer for North Worcestershire, Mr Peter Aston, said: "It takes only seconds for opportunistic thieves to strike when vehicles are left with the keys in the ignition and engine running, such as when drivers pop into a shop or stop by a postbox, or more commonly leave their cars defrosting on icy mornings.

"Drivers may well find their insurance will not pay up in cases where the keys have been left in the ignition. Furthermore it is both illegal and potentially very dangerous to leave a car on a road with the engine running."

The Ka has not yet been recovered.

Witnesses or anyone with information are asked to contact PC Liam Bennett on 0300 333 3000 quoting incident 543-s-291211 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Issued: Friday, 30 December 2011