Idling doesn't help your car - but it offers a golden opportunity for thieves

Jan 13, 20200

Tom Stromme – Associated Press count

Cars warmed up on a street in Bismarck, N.D., where it is illegal to idle an unattended vehicle. Minneapolis law also prohibits idling a car for more than three minutes in a one-hour period, or for more than 15 consecutive minutes in any one-hour period when temperatures are at zero or below.

When temperatures slide toward zero and below, as they are forecast to do this week, motorists may be tempted to let their vehicles warm up before hitting the road. But the American Automobile Association (AAA) says it isn't necessary, and police warn that it's risky.

Vehicles running and left unattended are prime targets for thieves, as shown by a spike in auto thefts in Minneapolis last year. And while those first few minutes shivering in a cold car can be downright miserable, waiting a few minutes for the engine to warm up and the heat to kick in won't improve performance, said David Bennett, AAA's repair systems manager.

http://www.startribune.com/idling-cars-are-invitations-for-thieves/566925812/