When cold weather sets in, car thieves are hot on the trail
SITUATION OUT ALONG I-40 BY THE
AIRPORT.
WE'LL MONITOR THAT FOR YOU BACK
TO YOU.
>> MARK, THANK YOU.
IF YOU ARE HEADING OUT TONIGHT
ON TOP OF WATCHING ROAD
CONDITIONS, YOU'LL WANT TO KEEP
A CLOSE EYE ON YOUR CAR ITSELF.
>> RALEIGH POLICE SAY THEY ARE
SEEING MORE CARS STOLEN WHILE
DRIVES ARE HEATING THEM UP.
A WARNING AS THE SNOW CONTINUES
TO FALL.
>> IT DOES CONTINUE TO FALL
HERE AT RALEIGH POLICE
HEADQUARTERS.
IF YOU BEHIND THE WHEEL AND THE
ELEMENTS ARE COLD AND MESSY,
YOU MIGHT BE TEMPTED.
MIGHT BE TEMPTED TO KEEP THE
CAR RUNNING WHILE YOU MAKE A
QUICK STOP AND DASH INSIDE OR
PERHAPS YOU LIKE TO HEAT UP
YOUR CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY OR A
PARKING LOT OF YOUR APARTMENT
COMPLEX.
BECAUSE YOU DREAD HAVING TO SIT
IN AN ICEBOX OF A CAR AND WHO
DOESN'T.
CARELESSNESS CAN QUICKLY SET IN
WHEN YOU ARE SEEKING HEAT AND
COMFORT.
RALEIGH POLICE SERGEANT GLEN
SOUL YOU SAYS A RUNNING CAR --
IT ONLY TAKES A COUPLE OF
SECONDS FOR A THIEF TO MAKE OFF
WITH A CAR THAT IS LEFT
RUNNING.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, SINCE
NOVEMBER, 40 CARS IN RALEIGH
HAVE BEEN STOLEN.
CARS THAT WERE LEFT RUNNING IN
DRIVEWAYS, IN PARKING LOTS AND
AT GAS STATIONS.
IT ALL COMES TO ROBBING THE
THIEVES OF THE OPPORTUNITY.
THE CONSEQUENCES TO HAPPEN.
IT IS REALLY MORE OF AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMEONE WHO IS
LOOKING TO DO SOMETHING LIKE
THAT.
>> SO IT IS ABOUT -- DON'T
LEAVE A SPARE KEY IN THE
CONSOLE IN PLAIN SIGHT, FOR
EXAMPLE.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, SERGEANT
SAYS IT IS AGAINST THE LAW TO
LEVER AN UNATTENDED CAR.
LEAVE A RUNNING CAR UNATTENDED.
THERE ARE SOME EXCEPTIONS.
YOU CAN LEAVE IT RUNNING IN
YOUR DRIVEWAY OR ON PRIVATE
PROPERTY, BUT YOU MUST HAVE THE
CAR LOCKED AND HAVE THE
EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED.
SO, KEEP THAT IN MIND AS YOU
ARE DRIVERRING ABOUT MAKING A
QUICK STOP FOR A COUPLE OF
MINUTES.
YOU PROBABLY WON'T GET YOUR CAR
TOO COLD.
SO TURN IT OFF, TAKE THE KEY,
LOCK IT UP.
>> BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY.