Crime & Safety

Beware: Car Thieves Target 'Steamers'

The Renton Police and the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office advise against leaving your car idling to warm up.

 

A pre-warmed car is nice, but consider the risk. A few minutes of discomfort driving in a cold car on a winter morning is a lot less painful than a stolen car.

The Renton Police Department and King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office say leaving an idling car in the driveway to warm up is not a good idea. 

Find out what's happening in Kirklandwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The fact that a car is right in front of a house, or even in your driveway, is no real deterrent to a thief,” Det. Robert Onishi said. “An idling car left unattended is an open invitation to an opportunistic thief, who can see the exhaust from blocks down the road.”

Thieves even have a nickname for early morning idling cars, which they call “steamers.”

Find out what's happening in Kirklandwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A few years ago, a Renton man interrupted such a theft, but was run over and dragged by his own car as the thief drove it away. The victim was found dead at the scene; his killer is still in prison, serving time for his murder.

Renton Police have received no reports of “steamer” thefts this fall; however, the department investigated two such thefts early last spring.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Kirkland