Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes had his prized 4X4 stolen from his driveway recently as he defrosted the windscreen.
The thieves pounced after the Old Trafford legend left the engine running on his Chevrolet Captiva Estate to melt the ice while he went back indoors*. Known as ‘frost-jacking’ this type of theft rises during any cold period, as thieves look out for anyone who has left their car running while it warms up. Stolen vehicle recovery expert TRACKER warns that leaving the car unattended on a frosty morning leaves it vulnerable to opportunistic thieves.
TRACKER’s Police Relationships Manager, Stuart Chapman, comments, “This theft goes to show how anyone can be a victim of calculating car thieves. Our stolen vehicle intelligence shows that thieves look out for cars on frosty mornings, shopping around for the most popular makes and models, as temperatures start to drop. Modern cars use inbuilt security that makes it more difficult to steal them without the keys, so every year thieves exploit the cold snap to target car owners who take the risk on frosty mornings.”
TRACKER stolen vehicle recovery systems work like an electronic homing device. A covert transmitter is hidden in one of several dozen places around the vehicle. There is no visible aerial, so the thief won’t even know it’s there. Unlike other tracking systems, the device works even if the vehicle is hidden in a garage or taken abroad, offering car owners the ultimate in peace of mind should the worst happen.
Chapman concludes, “Unfortunately this type of theft is all too common, with Mr. Scholes just one of a number of victims of ‘frost jacking’. Although it might be tempting to leave your car running to defrost windows and warm it up, this is a gift to a car criminal. We urge owners to use common sense, especially on cold morning, when thieves could be looking for an opportunity to steal a car from under your nose.
“Fitting a TRACKER unit could significantly increase the chance of a stolen car being recovered, however, never leaveyour car unattended with the engine running. It may take a few minutes more, but a few simple security precautions can save a lot of heartache and expense if your car is stolen.”
Winter Security Advice
- Never leave the keys in the ignition, even if you are just stopping quickly
- Never leave your car running unattended when de-icing
- Always lock and secure your vehicle
- Don’t leave belongings on show, lock them in the boot or take them with you
- Don’t leave technology items on display, such as satnavs, mobiles or DVD players. Take them with you or lock them in the boot.
- If your windscreen is damaged, get it repaired or replaced and contact Shatterscreen for an instant windscreen repair quote
- Never leave car documents or spare keys inside the car – this only makes it easier for thieves to sell it on
- Keep doors locked and windows up when driving
- Park in busy or well-lit and attended car parks near CCTV cameras
- If you have a garage, use it to park your car
- At home, don’t keep keys in a place where they can be seen or accessed from outside
- Consider fitting a tracking device to help police recover your car if it’s stolen
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