Police Warn Drivers That Warming Up Cars In Cold Weather Draws Thieves

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (CBSNewYork) -- Police in Connecticut warned Monday that cold weather draws car thieves.

As WCBS 880 Connecticut Bureau Chief Fran Schneidau reported, thieves strike during cold weather in particular in the suburbs – where many warm up their cars in the driveway and leave them idling while running back in the house and grabbing their purse, briefcase and gear.

New Haven police Officer David Hartman said the practice is a gift for car thieves, since so many of them know how to break a keyless entry system. He said drivers can easily avoid such thefts.

"Often, people will look closely at a keyless entry system and realize the dirtiest button is going to be the first push, the next dirtiest button is going to be the second, and so on," Hartman said.

Police also advised that drivers should never leave their car titles in the glove compartment, since with the title, any thief can make a quick sale on the car they just stole from the driveway.