The Manitowoc Police Department is reminding residents to be careful when warming up their cars due to the frigid weather.
Police Chief Nick Reimer said last week on WOMT’s Be My Guest program that although he understands why people want to warm up their cars, it’s not a good idea to leave keys inside with the car unlocked.
He says the department has recently seen people get into a vehicle and just drive away.
“Just because we live in a safe community doesn’t mean these things can’t happen,” he noted. “So just maybe have an extra set of keys so that you can leave it running. Someone could still break a window or something but that’s not something we normally see.”
It’s also illegal in Manitowoc to leave an unlocked car running on the streets.
Reimer says on average, the department sees about 25 to 30 cars taken without permission, sometimes by juveniles.
AAA explains that while warming up a car is convenient, it’s not a requirement with most modern cars.
More information about warming up your car can be found at aaa.com.
