A VAN was stolen after its driver left the engine running to de-ice the windscreen this morning.

Police are again reminding drivers not to leave their vehicles unattended with the engines running during the current cold snap, warning they can be stolen 'in seconds'.

This morning, Wednesday, Cleveland Police were called to a report of a van stolen after it was left running, while de-icing on the Billingham area, at about 7.15am.

The red Vauxhall Vivaro van, with a 17-plate registration, was stolen on Wallington Road.

A Durham Police spokesman said: “Invariably, when the weather turns colder we start to see incidents like this. The temptation is for motorists to leave their cars unattended with the engines running, but this makes them vulnerable to opportunist thieves.

“Leaving the keys in the ignition just makes it easy for criminals. It may also lead to difficulties with your insurance company if you make a claim.”

  • Anyone with information regarding the incident or the whereabouts of the van is asked to contact Cleveland Police on the non-emergency number 101, quoting event number 12732.

Why you should never leave your car unattended:

According to AA AutoWindshields two-fifths (40%) of drivers let their car’s engine clear icy screens before they drive off.  But they are at serious risk of losing their car if they pop back indoors and leave the engine running, even for a moment.

Dean Hill, AA AutoWindshields technician of the year, points out that modern cars are almost impossible to steal without the keys. "To car thieves, frosty mornings are a Christmas gift," he says.

Unfortunately, the AA say car owners will also get a cold reception from their insurance company as loss by leaving keys in an unattended vehicle is specifically excluded from motor insurance policies.