Warming up the car? Be careful of theft

Now that the weather has changed and gotten colder, people are starting to warm up their vehicles. The Duluth Police Department would like to remind citizens not to leave their cars and trucks running unattended and un-secure. City ordinance restricts leaving your keys in an unattended vehicle under City Code 33-91, but if you choose to warm your car up or leave it running, at a minimum, roll up the windows and lock the doors.

Auto theft is often a crime of opportunity and citizens can help prevent auto theft by not giving a thief the opportunity to steal their car. Also, do not leave vehicles running and un-secure when going into the store. It only takes a person a few seconds to get into a running, unlocked car and drive away.

Incident: On 11/14/2006 Duluth Police received a report of a vehicle stolen from outside of a person’s home in the East Hillside during the evening hours. The vehicle was running, unattended and unlocked. Duluth Police later recovered this vehicle in West Duluth after a diligent citizen observed suspicious juvenile entering vehicles and contacted 911. Duluth Police Officers arrested the juvenile male and the investigation revealed he had stolen the above vehicle and also entered six other vehicles. Charges are being requested from the St. Louis County Attorney’s Office, Juvenile Division.