(KNSI) – St. Cloud Police are urging residents to resist the temptation of leaving their vehicles unattended while running with the keys inside once the temperature drops.
Whether it is letting the cars warm up in the driveway or keeping them on and the heat blasting while stepping inside a store on an errand run, officials warn that criminals are looking to take advantage. A post on X from the St. Cloud Police Department says that between January 1st and March 1st of this year, 24 vehicles were stolen under such circumstances.
The department notes vehicle thefts are on the rise in the community, a trend seen elsewhere in Minnesota in the past couple years that is just beginning to take over locally. That could make early 2026 theft numbers even higher than 2025 unless precautions are taken.
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