‘Warm up’ car thefts on the rise, York Regional police warn

The keys are in the ignition, the engine is purring, but the driver is nowhere in sight. It’s a common scene in winter months when many let their engines run to warm up their vehicles before driving.

But York Regional Police are warning that so-called ‘warm up’ thefts are on the rise.

“People are making it easy for them,” said York Regional Const. Andy Patterson. “They’re leaving the keys in the vehicle, they leave it running. Thieves just walk right up and drive away.”

Police say groups of thieves watch certain neighbourhoods to try to learn people’s routines in the morning, then swoop in and steal their cars.

Many times it’s not just empty cars that theives make off with. Anything left inside goes along with it.

That’s what happened last week in Mississauga when a mother who stopped for gas left her keys, and baby, in the car. A thief took off with the vehicle with her baby inside. Luckily in that case the thief abandoned the car a short distance away and the baby was uninjured.

The mother told police she was only inside the gas station for less than 30 seconds. Police say it can take even less time to fall victim and they’re asking drivers to be vigilant.

CityNews reporter Amanda Ferguson speaks to a victim of a recent ‘warm up’ theft in the video above.

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