Therecent cold spell has brought an increase in the car crime of"frosting" and "carjacking" warns  expertsthe AA. This week car thieves in Glasgow, Manchester, Leeds, WestMidlands, Northamptonshire and Berkshire have been on the look-out to stealcars left unoccupied with the engine running as the owner tries to de-frost thewindows.

Awoman driver from Berkshire has been badly injured as a result of one suchincident. AA  has warnedthat car owners who start their car on a frosty morning and then go backindoors, even for a moment, leave themselves open to the vehicle being stolenand not being covered by their insurance.

Inthe past police forces from Central Scotland to Northamptonshire have warned ofthe dangers of frosting. As cars have become more secure the determined thiefwill target the car keys.

Commenting,Edmund King, AA president, said: "We have heard of a spate of frostingthefts across the country. This can be a double blow to the drivers who losetheir cars and may not be covered by insurance. We have heard of organisedcriminals cruising the suburbs looking for unattended cars. Car keys are theweakest link in the car security chain and should be guarded like cash".

TheAA advises motorists to give themselves more time on frosty mornings to de-icethe car using a scraper rather than leaving the engine running and risk havingthe car stolen.

Leavingthe carrunning may also break the law. A motorist has been fined ?30 fordefrosting his car outside his home because he left it unattended with theengine running. The police warn it is also an offence to leave a car unattendedwith the engine running on the public highway.