Don’t Get Caught Cold By Car Thieves

With temperatures expected to remain below freezing for the next few days, police in Hereford are reminding people not to leave their cars unattended with engines running.

Every winter, the West Mercia Police receives a number of reports 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.

Superintendent Charlie Hill, Territorial Policing Unit Commander in Hereford, 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."

Superintendent Hill said drivers who ignore the warning are taking big risks.

"This warning is particularly timely as only last night - at around 8.30pm - a Ford Galaxy was stolen from outside a property on Aylestone Hill in just these circumstances.

"Although two men in their late 20s have been arrested in connection with this incident, this should act as a real reminder that thieves will drive around our 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.

 "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 especially 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. Further crime prevention advice is available on the West Mercia Police website at http://www.westmercia.police.uk/.

Issued: Thursday, 2 February 2012