State Police: Leaving a Car Idling Is Illegal, Invites Theft

Leaving a vehicle unattended and idling, or leaving keys in it are invitations to theft. They are crimes, as well.

Maryland State Police are letting motorists know that their vehicle could be stolen, or they could be issued a citation with a $70 fine, according to a news release.

"Maryland motor vehicle law states that before a person driving a motor vehicle may leave it unattended, he or she must stop the engine, lock the ignition, remove the key, and set the parking brake," the release states.

State Police gave the following statistics from 2011, showing that the crime is common:

• More than 16,000 vehicles stolen
• Half of them were unlocked
• 30 percent had keys inside them
• 4,000 were running when they were stolen

During cold weather, more vehicles are stolen because they're unattended and running.

"Owners always report they were just ‘warming up’ their car, or they were only in the convenience store for a few seconds," the release states.

Burglars wait for these opportunities, police said, by doing the following:

• Drive through neighborhoods looking for a plume of exhaust coming from an unoccupied vehicle.
• Wait and watch in parking lots

Advice from police includes: Lock your car and take the key.

Also:

• Use a mechanical anti-theft device
• Etch the vehicle identification number onto various parts of the vehicle
• Get a vehicle tracking security system.