OSHKOSH, FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Police and firefighters have strong warnings for drivers during this deep freeze.
Since December 28th, thieves have stolen five cars throughout Oshkosh.
“And in each instance the owner left the keys in the vehicle,” Oshkosh Police Officer Joe Nichols tells WLUK the drivers left cars running to warm them up during this deep freeze.
While tempting, he told us that is a big mistake.
“It’s just inviting. Whether they have to get across town, or whatever, they’re doing, staying warm, they’re stealing these vehicles and they’re leaving the owners in a lurch” In each instance the car has been found, although one was damaged in a crash. The thieves have not been caught.
Nichols says dealing with a cold car is better than having no car.
“Lock your cars, take valuables out of your cars and don’t leave your cars running unattended”
And firefighters are saying for you own, personal safety you should not turn your car on until it is out of your garage.
“When you leave them in there, you get the right amount of air moving the wrong way, of course, then the CO is in the house,” explained Fond du Lac Fire Division Chief Troy Haase.
CO, meaning carbon monoxide, the deadly, invisible, odorless gas.
“We’ve had a couple calls lately where we had people running their vehicles. We get there for the alarm going off” He explained it’s not just cars that cause CO. Space heaters and malfunctioning furnaces are common culprits.
Oshkosh’s Fire Department also has a warning for drivers at the gas pump. They say you should stay with the pump the entire time and never leave your car running.
