Beware of 'frosting' car crime.

WINTER weather has brought an increase in the car crime known as "frosting" and "car jacking", warns the AA.

This week car thieves in Glasgow, Manchester, Leeds, West Midlands, Northamptonshire and Berkshire have been on the lookout to steal cars left unoccupied with the engine running as the owner tries to de-frost the windows.

A woman driver from Berkshire was badly injured as a result of one such incident. AA Insurance is warning that motorists who start their car on a frosty morning and then go back indoors, even for a moment, leave themselves open to the vehicle being stolen and not being covered by their insurance.

In the past, police forces from Central Scotland to Northamptonshire have warned of the dangers of frosting. As cars have become more secure, the determined thief will target the car keys.

AA president Edmund King says: "We have heard of a spate of frosting thefts across the country. This can be a double blow to the drivers who lose their cars because they may not be covered by insurance. We have heard of organised criminals cruising the suburbs looking for unattended cars.

Car keys are the weakest link in the car security chain and should be guarded like cash."

The AA advises motorists to give themselves more time on frosty mornings to de-ice the car using a scraper rather than leaving the engine running and risk having the vehicle stolen.

Leaving the car running may also break the law. A motorist has been fined pounds 30 for defrosting his car outside his home because he left it unattended with the engine running.

Police warn it is also an offence to leave a car unattended with the engine running on the public highway.