Police warning after car is stolen in Delph while owner left it to defrost

Someone jumped into a vehicle and drove off while the owner was still inside the house

Greater Manchester Police have issued a warning to motorists across Oldham after one driver had her car taken while he waited for it to defrost.

It was at around 7.30am yesterday morning (Monday) when the owner started the car engine in order to melt the frost.

However, she returned to her house believing her Smart key wouldn’t allow anyone to drive away with her vehicle without the key being present in the car.

That turned out to be not the case and someone jumped into the vehicle and drove off while the owner was still inside the house.

Greater Manchester Police’s Saddleworth and Lees division have taken to social media to warn others of the risks of leaving your car unattended.

A Facebook post read: “At 7:29 this morning a car was taken from Delph Lane in Delph.

"The owner had left it running to de-ice and gone back inside the address and although the owner took the key with her, it a one of the new 'smart' keys and she believes it "Will not go far without it".

“Wrong, once it’s started it'll keep going until switched off (or runs out of fuel). AND the insurance company will not want to know.

“DON'T leave your vehicle unattended with the engine running.”

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