This could happen to anyone!

[Shoo]

Last night our next door neighbor came over to tell us that her car was stolen out of her driveway that morning.  It was a very cold morning, and she started her car to let it warm up.  She was actually outside waiting, but ran into the house for a few seconds to grab something.  When she did, someone jumped into her car and drove off with it!

Apparently, whoever stole it was watching and waiting.  It only took a few seconds and it was gone.

When I think of how many times I have done this (the car warming up thing, not the car stealing thing!) it makes me cringe.  Never again.

[Suze]

the only time that I do the car warm up thing is if there is a boatload of ice on the windows (I'm lazy, eaiser to let it melt off)

But I usually lock the car with the second set of keys

[Alida]

That's why we have 2 sets of keys.  We lock our car when we do that, just to be safe.

[CocoCamm]

Automatic starter baby!! I can stay in my nice warm house and just hit a button and the car starts. By the time I'm ready to go the car is warmed up. Not only convienant, but no need to keep the doors unlocked. My automatic starter actually has a "valet" feature so if I'm running in a store real quick I can just hit a button and remove my keys from the ignition and lock the doors all while the car stays running. For about $100 an automatic starter is more then a worthwhile investment.

[HogwartsAlum]

the only time that I do the car warm up thing is if there is a boatload of ice on the windows (I'm lazy, eaiser to let it melt off)

But I usually lock the car with the second set of keys

That's the only time I do it too...although I'm usually out there scraping at the same time. 

[Suze]

the only time that I do the car warm up thing is if there is a boatload of ice on the windows (I'm lazy, eaiser to let it melt off)

But I usually lock the car with the second set of keys

That's the only time I do it too...although I'm usually out there scraping at the same time. 

but if you start the car with the defroster going full blast for about five minutes or so, the windshield ice just "slides right off" with not a lot of effort.

Suze

[kingsrings]

Starting your car and letting it idle does nothing to warm it up. A car can only get warmed up when it is in motion. I've heard mechanics say this. If you want to warm up your car, just drive it around the block a couple of times before hitting the big roads.

[Clara Bow]

Don't leave your purse in the car either....a friend of mine did that and was only inside less than a minute. When she walked back out the glass was still falling out of her window and the purse was gone. Yes the door was locked.

[andi]

that's horrible!  and the really bad part is - most likely her insurance will not cover it since the keys were in the ignigtion.  she could also possibly be ticketed.

horrible thing.

[Suze]

Starting your car and letting it idle does nothing to warm it up. A car can only get warmed up when it is in motion. I've heard mechanics say this. If you want to warm up your car, just drive it around the block a couple of times before hitting the big roads.

it might not "warm up the engine" but it sure does the inside of the car.  and if the Glass is warm the ice slides off or at least is much easier to scrap off. 

And that is the only time I let the car "warm up"  usually it is get in and go.

Suze

[itiswhatitisn't]

How awful for your neighbor!  I am too nervous to do this.  I don't care how nice a neighborhood we live in someone is always watching and you never know who could be short of cash and steals your car.  yes I am a little paranoid.

I am always the person outside scraping her car with the defrost going full blast.  By the time I get to the fron windshield it's usually mostly thawed.  And in my old car it took that long for the heat to kick on!

[fklwmn]

Starting your car and letting it idle does nothing to warm it up. A car can only get warmed up when it is in motion. I've heard mechanics say this. If you want to warm up your car, just drive it around the block a couple of times before hitting the big roads.

Hmmm...  I'd love to hear these mechanics explain why 5 minutes after I start my car (and leave it idling), the thermostat is reading at or near the same temperature it sits when I'm driving, and my heater is blowing enough toasty warm air that it has heated my whole car up...