As temperatures plunge below zero Cheshire Police are reminding car owners not to be tempted to leave their carsunattended while they are waiting for them to defrost.
Detective Chief Inspector Brian Roberts said "Opportunist criminals seize the opportunity of the cold weather to steal cars. The arrival of frost- filled mornings normally brings a series of de-frosting type thefts. Thieves target cars which have been left with their engines running to defrost the windscreens.
The message from Cheshire Police is simple - Never leave keys in the ignition and doors unlocked when your car is unattended, even if it is only for a couple of minutes and the vehicle is sitting on your own driveway or on the road outside your house. Similarly, we urge drivers to be sensible and defrost their screens before moving off, because driving with only a few inches of the windscreen clear is dangerous.
The consequences of losing your car in this way could be more far reaching than most people realise.
Detective Chief Inspector Brian Roberts added "The sensible approach is to allow an extra few minutes to defrost and stay with the vehicle while it warms up. Alternatively, use a de-icer spray and windscreen scraper to clear your windows.
"When making an insurance claim in a situation where a driver has left a vehicle unattended, insurers may argue that reasonable care has not been taken. This invalidates the claim. Victims are then faced with the loss of their vehicle with no means of replacement, even though they are fully insured."
