Police say thieves targeting running vehicles as cold weather hits

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- As an arctic blast descended upon Milwaukee on Monday, January 21st, Milwaukee police cancelled a previously scheduled crime meeting and instead focused on safety tips for dealing with this dangerous cold.

Milwaukee police say when it's cold, thieves target unattended vehicles that are being warmed up. 

"It's January. It's extremely cold, with the wind chill factor below zero. When it gets really cold, people have a tendency to want to start their car and go back inside to let the car warm up," Milwaukee Police Officer Bobby Lindsey said.

Milwaukee police say that's the moment when a criminal will seize the opportunity to snatch up a car -- with keys and a warm cab greeting the thief who spots this opportunity.

Police say they've seen the trend in the Milwaukee area -- especially over the last week.

"As many as 50% of the vehicles that were stolen were taken because the keys were in the car and the car was running and left unattended," Officer Lindsey said.

Officers report since the start of the New Year, dozens of vehicles have been taken across Milwaukee's north side in and around MPD District 7. Investigators believe in most cases, the thieves are using the cars to joyride or commit additional crimes like burglary.

"It's certainly a loss for you to have your car stolen and it's a loss for everyone else to use in the commission of other crimes. It just snowballs from there," Officer Lindsey said.

There's no one place crooks are targeting, but officers say they're generally striking between midnight and 8:00 a.m., and at times going after some models of Dodge or Plymouth vehicles.

Investigators say the way some of those Chrysler cars were made makes them easier to take without keys. 

For now, officers have some advice: it's better to deal with the cold than to be dealing with a stolen car.

"Stay in your vehicle as you're warming it up," Officer Lindsey said.