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JACK FROST AIDS CAR THIEVES
Added: (Fri Nov 19 2004)
JACK FROST AIDS CAR THIEVES
No, not the Jack Frost of Denton CID TV fame but the severe inclement weather which has suddenly hit us.
Motorists are surprised each year by a sudden snap frost which leaves their cars iced over on the driveway. They have forgotten to buy that can of de-icer which would rapidly clear the windows so instead they start the car engine and leave it ticking over on the driveway for a few minutes until the demister has cleared the frost away and the car is warm enough to drive off in comfort.
Whilst the engine is ticking over on the driveway the motorist invariably goes back indoors where it is nice and warm – forgetting that car thieves now have the ideal Christmas gift – someone else’s pride and joy.
When the motorist steps outside some five minutes later he realises he has an empty drive and, worse of all, he can not claim for the theft from his insurance company because the theft of the vehicle is entirely his fault.
If a motorist leaves the keys in the vehicle whilst he is away from it insurance companies take the view he has not taken all reasonable precautions to protect his property.
Because it is almost impossible to steal a car without the keys the thief now seeks out those vehicles where the owner has temproarily left the keys in the ignition – perhaps whilst loading shopping in the boot, or whilst the car is ticking over on the driveway.
During the morning of 19th November 2004 eight cars were stolen in the Greater Manchester Police area – each one had been left by its owner with the engine ticking over clearing the windscreen.
Neil Longsden of RTA Investigations of Rochdale, a member of the International Association of Auto Theft Investigators, who specialises in investigating thefts of vehicles for insurance companies says, “EACH YEAR MANY VEHICLES ARE STOLEN WHILST THEIR DRIVERS HAVE LEFT THEM WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. THIS IS PARTICULARLY PREVALENT ON FROSTY MORNINGS. MOTORISTS SEEM TO THINK CAR THIEVES REMAIN IN BED ON FROSTY MORNINGS – THEY DON’T. PROTECT YOUR KEYS AND YOUR VEHICLE AT ALL TIMES – IT COULD BE A VERY EXPENSIVE LESSON OTHERWISE.”
Neil advises motorists to use de-icer or a scraper to clear the iced up windows and then sit in the car whilst the engine is warming up sufficiently to ensure the windows remain ice free during the journey. “MODERN ENGINES ONLY TAKE FIVE MINUTES TO REACH WORKING TEMPERATURE. REMAIN IN THE CAR FOR THOSE FEW MINUTES – PERHAPS YOU CAN MAKE SOME CALLS ON YOUR MOBILE PHONE WHILE THE ENGINE IS WARMING UP. THE RESULT IS THE CAR WILL BE SAFE, IT WILL RUN SMOOTHER BECAUSE THE ENGINE IS AT WORKING TEMPERATURE, AND THE WINDOWS WILL REMIAN FROST FREE DURING THE JOURNEY TO WORK.”
NOTE: Neil Longsden retired from Greater Manchester Police as the Chief Inspector second in command of the Motorway Unit in 1995. He then formed RTA Investigations which carries out investigations nationwide into road traffic accidents and auto-thefts on behalf of insurance companies and solicitiors.
Contact – 01706 861391, 07941371397,
email – neil@rta-investigations.co.uk.
Web site: www.rta-investigations.co.uk