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 With the colder weather on its way with some colder mornings, it's a timely opportunity to provide some crime prevention advice.

Please be aware that as well as risking committing a criminal offence if you leave your car running whilst it is defrosting, it is possible to steal cars from the driveway whilst you are inside awaiting the car to warm up.

Most keyless cars, will allow the car to be driven off even without the key within the cabin; it is tempting to leave your car to defrost on the driveway, but please keep in mind every year some cars are stolen because someone takes the opportunity to steal an unattended car defrosting.

To help you before the first signs of frost here are a few considerations:

Keep an ice scraper ( and a pair of gloves) by your front door to allow you to scrap ice from your windscreen / windows and rear windscreen, you need to be able to fully see out of your windows before driving away.

Purchase de-icer / make your own de-icer,  and keep this by your front door ( rather than within your car in-case it is that cold that you cannot get into your car).  

Using the garage to store your car overnight / make use of a windscreen cover overnight can prevent your vehicle from frosting over.

Lift up your windscreen wipers and check for damage / check they are not frozen to the windscreen.  

Do not use boiling water to de-ice your windows as this can cause the glass to crack or weaken.

In the winter mornings, where you can, allow extra time to de-ice your car, and if we have snow it's also really important to remove the snow from all over the car, including the roof; this prevents it sliding down and obscuring your view through the windscreen when you brake.