Car stolen while warming up in Denver metro area, deputies warn of "puffing"

A car left to warm up outside Wednesday morning was stolen just after 8 a.m. in Highlands Ranch.

Video from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office shows a stolen car weaving in and out of traffic to avoid deputies. They said the car was stolen after the owner started the car to warm it up and then went back inside the house. Minutes later, they went back outside and realized their car had been stolen.

Deputies found the vehicle abandoned in a nearby neighborhood a few hours later.

Authorities reminded the public leaving a car unattended to warm up, also known as "puffing" is illegal in Colorado. They added that law is in place to reduce incidents like this.