File Under: Advice We Shouldn’t Need
Metropolitan Police Department Commander Kimberly Chisley-Missouri just sent this reminder to the e-mail list for the Fourth District, which includes Petworth, Brightwood, and Takoma:
Good Morning.
During cold weather, it may be tempting to leave your vehicle running to warm up or while you run inside a residence or business. Please remember it is also tempting for theives who take advantage of this.
Yesterday, 4D had 3 stolen autos reported. The vehicle was left running and unattended in all three cases.
Remember, please do not leave your vehicle running unattended. Take the keys and remove any items of value.
Thanks.
Presumably, the next message will remind Fourth District residents to breathe.
2:19 pm
The Cleveland Park listserv is a constant source of amusement, and one of the gems from around thanksgiving of last year was some folks who left their car running on the street while loading buckets of food into it. Sure enough they car 'disappeared'. They called MPD and the first thing the officer did was issue them a ticket for leaving a running vehicle unattended. Not sure how much the fine was, but it should probably be doubled or tripled.
5:39 pm
That's like leaving a laptop and Iphone sitting on your car's front passenger seat while the car is parked on a city street. You're just begging someone to smash and grab.
6:56 pm
If you or me did that we would get a ticket. What's good for the goose is good for the gander!