A car thief in Somerset was recently arrested after leaving his tracks in the snow, leading the police straight to where he lived.

But TRACKER, manufacturer of stolen vehicle recovery systems, has advised motorists to stay vigilant during the arctic weather as other thieves can be more devious.

The manufacturer suggests not leaving car keys in the ignition while waiting for the windows to defrost without staying with the vehicle.

All possessions should be kept safely locked away or with the driver at all times and cars should be parked in a secure area, the company advises.

Stuart Chapman, police relationship manager, urged motorists to stay in their car when the keys are in the ignition.

He said: "It is tempting to leave the keys in the ignition and the engine running in order to quickly heat up the car or defrost the windows, but for opportunistic car thieves, this can act as a green light to steal your vehicle."

Drivers should also be vigilant as to the upkeep of their vehicle in the winter as the cold temperatures can lead to extra wear on tyres, windscreen wipers and car batteries, according to tyre retailer Protyre.

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