Twelve week sentence for car thief

A thief has been handed a twelve week prison sentence after stealing a car left defrosting on a driveway in Four Oaks in December.

29 year-old Kaleel Maynard stole an Audi that the owner had left warming up on his driveway at around 8.30am on December 21.

A local resident who had witnessed the crime dialled 999 immediately, and police caught up with Maynard after he had abandoned the car in a country lane.

He was sentenced to twelve weeks at Birmingham Magistrates Court on Monday.

Now the freezing temperatures have returned, officers are warning vehicle owners that opportunist thieves will again be on the look out for unattended cars.

"The recent advances in vehicles security mean that criminals have had to become more opportunist," says PC Adam Charlesworth, of Sutton Coldfield police station.

"All the security features on your car won't help if you leave your car running to warm up with the key in the ignition. Please help us by always keeping your vehicle locked and secure at all times."