CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - A Chicago alderman has some advice for drivers after a recent rash of car thefts at gas stations.
“Always take your key fob with you when you leave your vehicle, even if it’s just a few minutes,” said 2nd Ward Ald. Brian Hopkins.
Hopkins said with the brutally cold temperatures it's tempting for some drivers to leave their cars running while pumping gas or running into the store, and thieves are taking advantage of that.
The most recent case involved a Porsche Macan at an Old Town gas station in the 100 block of North Avenue Thursday afternoon. The moment the driver walked a few feet away, a thief was inside the vehicle and driving off in just seconds.
“It appears that the offender was targeting motorists at this particular gas station,” Hopkins said. “We have video footage of him kind of hanging around in the general area, observing the customers and waiting for his moment when he had a vehicle he wanted and someone who left the engine running, as they walked away from the vehicle. That’s exactly what happened in this case.”
Hopkins added the car thieves appear to be targeting gas stations that are located near the expressways or DuSable Lakeshore Drive because they provide a faster getaway.
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