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Automobile Theft Prevention Authority Offers Consumer Safety Tip For Cold Weather

7 January 1999

Automobile Theft Prevention Authority Offers Consumer Safety Tip For Cold Weather

    MECHANICSBURG, Pa., Jan. 7 -- The Pennsylvania Automobile
Theft Prevention Authority (ATPA) offers this consumer safety/theft prevention
tip for the cold-weather months:

   --   Never leave your vehicle unattended.  Many people leave their
        vehicles unattended when allowing them to "warm up" in driveways or
        on streets in front of their homes.  This is an open invitation to
        thieves.  It only takes seconds to steal a vehicle -- especially one
        that's already running.

    In Pennsylvania, nearly 13 percent of vehicles stolen in 1997 had the keys
left in them.  Approximately 50 percent were left unlocked.  Don't start off
the new year by giving your vehicle to a car thief.  For more information on
auto theft prevention or the ATPA, visit the ATPA's website at
http://www.watchyourcar.org or call 1-888-777-ATPA.