You can’t mistake that Missouri winter chill in the air. Mornings are frosty. Windshields are icy. Car interiors are bitter cold. Weather like this creates prime opportunities for a criminal to steal your vehicle.
Think your car is safe defrosting in your driveway or apartment parking lot? Think again. Many vehicles each year are stolen from right in front of the victim’s home.
Are you stopping at your favorite convenience store for your morning cup of coffee? Even though it’s cold outside and you want to keep your vehicle warm, leaving the vehicle idling with the keys inside is a criminal’s dream.
These are common scenarios in most cases when vehicles are reported stolen during the winter. The vehicle owner briefly let their guard down and an opportunistic criminal took advantage. It only takes five seconds for someone to slip into your vehicle and drive away.
To prevent this crime from happening to you, here are some tips:
- Never leave your vehicle idling unattended with the keys inside.
- Never leave your keys in your vehicle.
- Always lock your doors.
In addition to being a huge risk factor in your car getting stolen, it is also a violation of Springfield city code to leave your vehicle idling with the keys inside. However, if you can remote start your vehicle with the doors locked and the keys with you, it is OK to leave your vehicle idling.
If your vehicle is stolen, please call the Springfield Police Department as soon as possible to file a report at 417-864-1810 or visit us in the lobby during business hours at 321 E. Chestnut Expressway.