Several cars left running to warm up stolen in Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH — Cold January temperatures may tempt you to start your car and leave it running to warm up, but you may want to think twice about that.

In the city of Pittsburgh, there have been at least three cases in the past month of thieves stealing running cars. One case was in Brookline, a second in Beechview and the third happened in Sheraden.

"A lot of the younger kids they see a car running, you know, it's an easy way to get around. They jump in it," said Pamela Woolever, who lives in Sheraden.

On the Zone 6 police Twitter page, officers warned people against actions that could make them a victim.

"They don't need nothing but to open the door and jump in it, you know, if they leave it running," said Raymond Campbell.

You can be fined for leaving your car unlocked and unattended with the engine running.

A Pittsburgh police spokesperson said this isn’t a new crime; in fact, the department issues a warning for it every winter.

Cox Media Group