Three Cars Left Running Stolen From Beaconridge; Police Warn Against Unattended Vehicles

Bolingbrook police officials are warning residents against leaving their cars unattended while running, even if just for a few minutes.

The warning follows the theft of three cars that were left running, most likely because the owners wanted the car to warm up in the cold, in the Beaconridge subdivision this month.

On three separate days, cars were stolen, according to police reports.

On Dec. 1, a 1998 black Grand Prix was taken from the 100 block of Somerset Lane while warming up at 5:45 a.m. Then, again on the 100 block of Somerset Lane, another car was stolen at 10:45 p.m. after the car's owner said they were warming it up. A third car was stolen on Dec. 9 on the 100 block of Beaconridge Drive when the driver left the car running with the keys in the ignition. 

Bolingbrook Lieutenant Mike Rompa said stolen cars as the result of running cars is an annual trend for most communities. 

"This is not a trend for 2011," he said. "Residents need to stay with their vehicle if they are unable to remove the keys and lock the ignition."

Rompa said it is actually a violation of village code to leave your car unattended while running. 

The , Rompa said, also advises residents to remove any valuable items from plain view to avoid having your car burglarized.