GANGS of professional 'frost-jackers' are helping themselves to dozens of vehicles across Greater Manchester – because owners have left the engine running while they have another cup of tea.
Some 37 cars, with the engine running and keys in the ignition, have been taken this month during early morning strikes as owners are in their homes waiting for their car to defrost.
Thieves have simply watched the owner walk back into their home and driven off in the car.
Six cars alone were taken on Monday morning.
On Friday morning, a car thief couldn't believe his luck when he saw a brand-new £20,000 Citroen C5 on the drive of a house in Stockport, with the engine running and the owner inside the house.
He got in and drove off – and the owner only realised what happened when he came out of the house.
On the same morning, thieves took a £25,000 BMW X5 from the drive of a house in Godley, Tameside, in almost identical circumstances.
But the owner, who was inside the house, heard the car being driven away and gave chase.
The X5 crashed into a kerb when it skidded on the ice and the thief fled. Although he got his car back, one wheel was badly buckled in the crash.
On Monday morning, a Fiat was taken from outside a house in Blackley and a Rover 25 was taken from the drive of a home in Oldham.
On Tuesday morning, thieves took a £10,000 Jaguar which was parked, with the engine running and owner no-were to be seen, outside a house in Levenshulme. Fortunately, the owner heard his car being driven away and chased after it. The thief abandoned the car at the end of the road as he had become stuck in traffic and the owner got his car back.
Now police are warning to car owners not to leave their cars running and unattended.
Sgt Mick McNulty, of the traffic network section of Greater Manchester Police, said: "Nobody likes getting into a cold car in the morning but you have to think about the consequences. It's not hard for a criminal to watch you go into the house and the see the exhaust smoking and just get in and drive off.
"Most of these incidents have happened as people defrost or warm up their cars but a few of them have also happened as people have popped into the newsagent for a paper and left the car running.
"It's not just organised crime gangs. It's opportunist thieves as well. Our message is that people should just not leave their keys unattended. It might be good to get into a warm car but the consequence could be that you lose your car and the insurance company isn't going to be happy if you have left the engine running and the keys in the ignition."
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Showing comments 1 to 15 and replies | View All
Stevedore, Quayside (22/12/2009 at 15:20)
JKW, Stockport (22/12/2009 at 15:23)
A Singleton, Gorton (22/12/2009 at 15:32)
They don't deserve an insurance payout, purely for being so stupid and not looking after their car properly.
NWmancCUB (22/12/2009 at 16:22)
Mad Welsh Scotsman, Cadishead (22/12/2009 at 16:43)
to the point, bury (22/12/2009 at 17:15)
andy waytomakeacomment, Greater Manchester (22/12/2009 at 18:03)
You're fortunate with your vehicle's security set-up.
The immobiliser of my car prevents the engine from running and being locked by the key at the same time.
My tip - if you like to have a nice warm drink while your car is defrosting, as I do, then get a travel mug (cheap at only a couple of quid from supermarkets and 'bargain' stores). Works a treat while you keep an eye on your car as it's defrosting/demisting.
@ M.E.N. - where do those vehicle valuations come from? Any why do your writers always seem to think that the vehicle valuations are relevant to every car-theft related story? Surely most people have a general idea of car values; it's a bit patronising, even when it's relevant and accurate !
John Quambo, salford (22/12/2009 at 18:12)
vernon stuttard (22/12/2009 at 19:07)
ENGINEER, Heywood (22/12/2009 at 23:36)
Simple stay in the car or lock it while you clear the snow and ice off the windows as some many idiots drive off with just the snow cleared with the wipers and they can;t even see out of the side windows because of the snow, as simple soft brush soon clears the whole car.
When in Rome (23/12/2009 at 01:23)
Chris R, Irlam (23/12/2009 at 09:34)
What's to stop them putting your window through & driving off? No insurance payout either!
Bloke next door to me starts his car to de-ice & goes back indoors every cold morning, idiot. If his car goes I'll have a good laugh as he's asking for it IMHO.
Daniel Pollard (23/12/2009 at 12:37)
Daniel Pollard (23/12/2009 at 12:39)
Mad Welsh Scotsman, Cadishead (23/12/2009 at 13:27)