Warming Cars Unattended Gives Des Moines Thieves Easy Targets

DES MOINES, IA — Three days into the new year and Des Moines police say the bitter cold termperatures and cars left unattended to warm up have proven too much temptation for thieves. Police have taken 10 reports of stolen cars already — and most have been cases of the owners going back inside to warm up while letting the vehicles run.

Police spokesman Sgt. Paul Parizek told WHO-TV seven of the 10 car thefts since Monday were related to running vehicles left unlocked and with the keys inside.

"If you don't have a remote start option with anti-theft feature, you are better off putting on an extra layer and toughing it out," Parizek told WHO.

Parizek said not all vehicles are located, and sometimes when they are, they have been damaged.

For one owner whose car was taken Tuesday night, a little detective work led to the car's recovery. Jake Marshall followed tracks in the snow after his vehicle was stolen in the 2600 block of Cottage Grove Avenue, and he found it near a convenience store in the 1300 block of Keo Way, WHO reported. He called police, who apprehended a juvenile for the theft.

The minor was taken into custody and Marshall's vehicle was returned undamaged.

Patch file photo, Melissa Myers