Help freeze out the car thieves

POLICE are asking motorists in Warrington to help “freeze out” car thieves during the cold snap.
They are warning drivers not to leave their cars unattended while defrosting.
Opportunist thieves often see bitterly cold mornings as a perfect opportunity to snatch a vehicle – especially if the driver has left the engine running and the car unattended.
Crime reduction advisor Lynne Lees said: “Leaving your car unattended for just a few minutes with the engine running is an open invitation for someone to jump in the car and drive off in it – it is an early Christmas present for an opportunistic thief.
“It might be tempting for drivers to leave their car doors open with the engine running whilst they scrape ice off the windscreen or leave the car on the drive with the engine running while they go back in to finish their cup of tea. But it only takes a matter of minutes for someone to get into a car and drive off if the engine is running and there is no one else around.
“When defrosting your car the advice would be to stay with it at all times – no matter how tempting it might be to nip away for a minute. People think it will never happen to them but it could happen to anyone and they should do everything they can to reduce the risk.”
Officers are carrying out high-visibility patrols across the town warning residents not to leave their cars defrosting on the driveway with the keys in the ignition.
Drivers are also being warned to be aware of their surroundings, to report anyone acting suspiciously in their area and to ensure that they remember to lock their cars after they have defrosted them if they go back into their house.
Police are also warning motorists to allow enough time every morning to fully defrost their cars before driving and to ensure they are prepared for driving in all types of weather – including fog, snow and ice.
They point out that it is illegal to drive with just a small area of the windscreen scraped clear of ice.