POLICE are reminding car owners not to make it easy for thieves after another incident where a vehicle was left with its engine running and stolen.

On Friday a Mercedes was stolen from the owner's drive in Derwentwater Avenue, Chester-le-Street, County Durham after the vehicle was left to de-ice.

And shortly before 8am today a similar theft occurred in Ramsay Drive, Ferryhill, County Durham after a female driver left her black Citroen C2 on the drive with the keys in the ignition while it defrosted.

She went back inside her house very briefly but in that time an opportunist thief jumped into the car, registration NB 07 EWS and drove it away.

The thief is suspected to be a youth in his mid to late teens, wearing a green jacket who was seen in the area.

Police discovered footprints he left in the snow and these will be checked against existing records.

Chief Inspector Vicki Martin said: "Invariably when the weather turns colder we start to see incidents like this.

"The temptation is for motorists to leave their cars unattended with the engines running, but this makes them vulnerable to opportunist thieves.

"Leaving the keys in the ignition just makes it easy for the criminals. It may also lead to difficulties with your insurance company if you make a claim."

Anyone with information about the thefts should call 0345-6060-365.