As part of Greater Manchester Police's vehicle crime campaign, codenamed WICKED, officers are warning the public not to leave vehicles unattended when defrosting their cars. As the Met Office continues to predict more cold weather across the region for the next few days, police are urging people to stay with their vehicles while de-icing them on frosty mornings, and to always ensure that their cars are fully locked and secured when unattended.
A GMP spokesperson said: "It can be tempting to leave the engine running on a frosty morning while you do other things. The simple way to ensure you car is not stolen in this time is to stay with it.
"Thieves look for vulnerable cars to steal so the best advice we can offer is to stay in your car when defrosting. If at any time you need to leave the car make sure you lock it, remove any valuables and take the keys with you. It only takes a few seconds to steal a car with keys in the ignition."