Opportunist thieves in Lancashire are stealing from cars as owners leave engine running during freezing temperatures
Thieves have been stealing from cars as owners are leaving vehicles unattended whilst they defrost in freezing conditions.
Over the weekend, Lancashire has been hit with amber and yellow weather warnings for snow and ice, issued by the Met Office. As a result, our streets and vehicles have been hit with a blanket of snow, often adding time on to your morning routine by defrosting the windows.
Lancashire Constabulary have said whilst motorists do this, there has been a number of reports of thefts from people who have left their engine running and their vehicles unattended. During this time, the police have issued advice on dealing with the cold weather snap and keeping your belongings safe.
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Their advice is:
When de-frosting your car, please do not leave your keys in the ignition or the engine running.
Do not leave any valuables, like mobile phones, wallets, laptops or gadgets in your car.
Do not leave any money or loose change in your vehicle (even a small amount can make you a possible target).
Make sure any CCTV/video doorbells are in full working order to assist us in our investigation to successfully prosecute offenders.
Police also warn that leaving your engine running could be a problem in itself.Under Section 42 of the Road Traffic Act, it is an offence to unnecessarily leave the engine running on a vehicle parked on a public road and could lead to a fixed penalty notice.