Rich Johnson, who owns Rich Johnson Automotive at 1410 N. Third St., works on a car that wouldn't start because of the recent cold weather. Johnson says motorists should allow their cars to warm up before driving them during the winter months. But they should also be careful and not leave their vehicles running and unoccupied, making them an easy target for thieves.

Lawrence police have seen an increase in car thefts over recent months, a common occurrence during the winter season.

Since November at least five vehicles left running were stolen in Lawrence, said Lawrence Police spokeswoman Kim Murphree. Only two of the stolen vehicles left running were recovered.

As the temperature drops, motorists are more likely to leave their vehicles running and unoccupied — an easy target for thieves, said Lawrence Police Sgt. Trent McKinley.

“Cold weather often results in many people leaving their vehicles unattended while they warm up or while people quickly duck into a convenience store, daycare locations or make some other type of quick stop,” McKinley wrote in an email.

Many thieves know people will leave their unlocked cars running to keep warm, so they often keep watch over neighborhoods and areas around convenience stores looking for an opportunity, McKinley said.

It only takes a few seconds for someone to enter a running car and take off, said Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Kristen Dymacek. It’s a crime of opportunity that is largely avoidable.

“We have also seen vehicle thefts occur when individuals are making food deliveries to homes or businesses,” McKinley added.

So far this winter the sheriff’s office has not had any reports of running vehicles left unattended that were stolen, Dymacek said. But those types of thefts can happen all over Douglas County.

Kansas University Public Safety Capt. James Anguiano said car thefts are less common on campus, possibly due to the nature of the school’s student body.

“I think a lot of students aren’t getting their cars stolen because they usually take the bus or they’re walking, not like in the city or the county,” he said.

Anguiano did note that Public Safety does occasionally remind delivery drivers to make sure they turn their cars off whenever they make a stop.

It’s best to avoid giving potential thieves the opportunity to steal a car, McKinley, Anguiano and Dymacek agreed.

Avoiding thefts can be tricky, however, because motorists are still advised to let their vehicles warm up rather than jump in and start driving immediately, said mechanic Rich Johnson, owner of Rich Johnson Automotive, 1410 N. Third St.

Driving a car the instant it starts in cold weather can, over time, damage the engine, Johnson said.

“I think any type of machinery that has an operating temperature like a car does should be close to that desired operating temperature when it’s running,” he said. “When there’s super cold weather and a person starts their car at zero degrees it takes time for lubrication to happen in all the vital areas.”

The best option, unfortunately, is for drivers to brave the cold, Anguiano said. Because aside from trying to avoid giving thieves the opportunity to steal a car, it’s also illegal in the state of Kansas for motorists to leave their vehicle unattended and running.

“It’s a standard traffic offense,” Anguiano said. “Unless you have a remote start, then it’s fine.”

Fortunately motorists don’t have to brave the cold for too long, Johnson said. Just a few minutes is all a vehicle needs to get the fluids pumping normally.

“I don’t think it’s necessary for them to be running for 15 minutes, but when I start my cars up I’ll let them sit for five minutes or so,” he said. “It’s also for creature comforts. I want to be in a warm car.”