Two stolen cars in two days have prompted a yearly warning from the Saint Joseph Police Department: don’t leave your car running to warm it up. Police Sergeant Jill Voltmer says someone drove off Tuesday morning in a car warming up near 28th and Jules. Monday morning it happened near 30th and Lafayette.

Voltmer says every year as it gets colder we get a rash of car thefts like this. She says people often start their cars and leave them running, doors unlocked. But even locking your car is not enough because a thief only has to break a window to get in and drive off. Voltmer says it’s “easy pickings.”

Sergeant Voltmer  says the only safe way is to use a remote start. Or do it the old fashioned way: don’t start it until you’re ready to drive it.