There Is Something Many Of Us Do That Is Leading To An Increase In Crime

Tulsa Police say they see an increase of auto thefts in the winter months. Part of the reason is something you do out of convenience may lead to criminal activity. <br/><br/>6 in the Morning reporter

Monday, January 8th 2007, 6:08 am

By: News On 6

Tulsa Police say they see an increase of auto thefts in the winter months. Part of the reason is something you do out of convenience may lead to criminal activity.

6 in the Morning reporter Carina Sonn says it is tempting to do when it's cold outside, leave your car running while you pop into the gas station or post office for a minute. But police say it's not worth the risk of having your vehicle stolen.

You may remember last week when the owner of a car left it running to go into a Tulsa convenience store. When he came out, the car was gone. Authorities found it 30-minutes later after it hit a mail box, telephone connection box, gas meter, fence, trash container and another fence. No one was in the car.

Officers say these kinds of auto thefts happen at least a couple of times a week during the winter.

A Tulsa city ordinance states that you cannot leave your vehicle unattended without taking the key out of the ignition and setting the emergency brake. Tulsa Police officer Jason Willingham: "There's just any number of people there that could make an opportunity that you give them and take your vehicle, so it's just never a good idea."

Officer Willingham says although not many officers issue a citation for leaving keys in the ignition, obeying the law is in our best interest.