The snow proved a perfect blank canvas for Somerset Police recently after a bungling car thief left his tracks in the snow, leading police straight to where he lived. But not all thieves are that foolish. Keep your modified motor safe and take extra security measures as the bad weather is set to continue.

Stuart Chapman, Tracker comments; “While many motorists have enjoyed a snow day or two recently, thieves never take a break, so we urge drivers to remain vigilant at all times. It is tempting to leave the keys in the ignition and the engine running in order to quickly heat up the car or defrost the windows, but for opportunistic car thieves, this can act as a green light to steal your vehicle, particularly with the darker mornings and long dark nights of winter. We urge drivers to stay with their car at all times if the keys are in the ignition”.

•Don’t leave the car with the engine running unattended when waiting for it to defrost

•Never leave the keys in the ignition, even if you are just stopping quickly. Always lock and secure your vehicle

•Make sure you don’t leave belongings on show. Lock them in the boot or take them with you

•Fit a stereo with a removable front panel and take it with you when you leave the car. Mark it with your vehicle registration

•Never leave car documents or spare keys inside the car

•Keep doors locked and windows up when driving

•Park in busy or well-lit and attended car parks near CCTV cameras

•If you have a garage, use it

•At home, don’t keep keys in a place where they can be seen or accessed from outside