Bedfordshire Police are urging vehicle owners across the county to think twice about leaving their cars running outside their homes in order to defrost the windows.
Now the weather has turned decidedly colder, motorists are tempted to warm up the car before driving off, often leaving the vehicle unattended providing easy pickings for opportunist thieves.
Last year 41 vehicles were stolen because owners had left their keys in the ignition. Not all of these were because they were defrosting them but were nevertheless left unattended for some reason, highlighting the problem.
Lara Curtayne crime reduction officer for Bedfordshire Police said: “Do this too often and thieves will become wise to the idea. The house may be a warmer place to wait but a thief can be away in your car within seconds so is it worth the risk?”
Insurance reports suggest some 24,000 people fell victim to such a crime every year across the UK.
Lara added; “Please don't make it easy for criminals - there are plenty of products on the market to prevent frost or remove it quickly but the best way, by far, is to stay with your vehicle while it is being defrosted, and it’s free.”