Warming up your car could leave it vulnerable, even with the key fob in your pocket

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - Given the temperatures outside, those frosty mornings may have you trying to warm up your car before you get behind the wheel, but for a number of reasons, it's best to avoid this practice.

Running your car unattended, also known as puffing, is against the law here in Colorado, but if you decide to skirt the law, just know that, depending on your make and model, your keyless fob may leave you vulnerable.

On Tuesday, Oct. 29, just past 7 a.m., a woman in Colorado Springs started her car before leaving it unattended, and according to the police report, it was gone when she returned. The report says she was surprised because she thought thieves wouldn't be able to take the vehicle if she held onto her key fob.

We consulted a locksmith who says that person, and many others this winter, will find out the hard way if they decide to take the risk.

"If you're going to use your auto starter, make sure you have everything out of the vehicle, like all keys accounted for," says Aaron Webb, a locksmith for EZ In Locksmith.

Webb warns that if a spare fob is left in the back seat or in close proximity, the car can still start.

"To check it first, go down to the vehicle without any keys. Press the start button. Make sure it doesn't start. If it does, that means there's something wrong or there's a fob in the system," says Webb.

Now, there are many factors here, including the age, make, and model of your car that may affect how your car reacts to the fob.

In this instance, police were able to recover the vehicle, but not before the two suspects had used their debit card, which was also in the vehicle.

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