Darien PD Gives Tips to Avoid 'Warm Up Thefts'

DARIEN, CT — Police are advising residents to not leave their cars running and unattended as the mercury dips lower.

"It’s a bad idea even if you are planning to make just a quick stop somewhere," said Sgt. Jeremiah Marron Jr., police spokesman. "Many vehicle thefts are crimes of opportunity, and a person could decide to make off with your vehicle if they see that it is empty and has the engine running."

One out of every five cars stolen had keys in them, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

It is against state law to idle a vehicle unattended for more than three minutes with some exceptions.

More from police:

If drivers must leave their cars idling, they should have two sets of keys so the car can be locked while running and the extra set can be used to unlock the door when the driver leaves. Remote car starters also allow drivers to start their cars while locked and require the key be in the ignition before it can even be put into drive, making it harder for thieves to steal.