Salisbury Police urge residents not to warm their cars up unattended this winter

SALISBURY, Md. – As the weather grows colder, so does the urge to warm your car up before you leave, but police say you should never do this while you’re not behind the wheel.

Salisbury Police are urging the public not to start their cars to warm up and then leave them idling unattended. This can and does lead to vehicles being stolen.

In fact, Salisbury Police say cars have been stolen recently because of this, and as a result they’re now urging residents to refrain from the practice, not only to prevent their cars from being stolen, but to avoid getting a citation as well.

“You can receive a traffic citation for leaving your keys running in the vehicle,” Salisbury Police Captain Ryan Koerner emphasized. “Even if your vehicle’s been stolen.”

Maryland transportation article 21. 1101 sub-section “a” says that “leaving the unattended vehicle without stopping the engine, locking the ignition, removing key and setting the brake could lead to a fine of $ 70.00 and 1 point on your driving record.”

“Dress warmly in the morning and start the car with your keys when you’re ready to leave,” Captain Koerner explained. “I know it’s not always the most comfortable thing, but it’s the safest bet in protecting your valuable property that you want to be able to get from point A to point B with.”

Police stress that this type of crime is a crime of opportunity, and that it’s within your power to prevent this from happening, especially as Delmarva is set to plunge into yet another cold snap.