Hassocks, Keymer and Clayton Neighbourhood Watch

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Leaving vehicles unattended with engine running during frosty or hot weather

This may seem rather obvious and you may even feel that this advice is another example of the nanny state, but every year during hot or cold weather motorists leave their vehicles conveniently available for easy pickings by opportunist thieves.

The message is:

During cold and frosty or hot weather do not to leave your vehicle unattended with the engine running in order to defrost the windows or to keep the air conditioning going.

Leave some extra time on frosty mornings to thoroughly defrost your vehicle's windows. This may seem like an inconvenience, but it's a lot less trouble than having your car stolen and suddenly being without transport.  And during hot summer weather it's a temptation to keep the engine running to maintain the air conditioning while popping into a shop.  It's better to return to a hot car than no car!

Many motorists think that it won't happen to them, or that as they live in a nice area that sort of thing doesn't happen.  But every year it does - don't be under any illusions and let it happen to you.

Another little known fact is that most vehicle insurance is invalidated in the event of a theft due to leaving the keys in an unattended vehicle.

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