Beware of leaving your vehicle running this winter. Let’s face it. Most of us (including me) have left our vehicles running with the heat blasting during winter to run into the store or house real quick (it’s even better when you have heated seats). And most of us have come back outside to find our vehicles right where we left them. For one local individual, however, that wasn’t the case.
Richard Irvine of Shenandoah, Iowa, formerly of Tarkio, left his vehicle running on Thursday, December 8, 2016, to make a quick run into Casey’s in Shenandoah. When he came back out his vehicle had been stolen.
The 2002 Chevy Avalanche was taken by Richard Rapp, 41, of Oakland, Iowa, who crashed the truck into a tree on the Shenandoah golf course and ran from the scene. The police tasered Rapp to apprehend him and he was taken to the hospital for an examination. The vehicle received extensive damage.
So, if you must leave your vehicle running, be sure to lock it with a spare key. Don’t forget the spare key before you get out of the car. Locking your keys inside with it running isn’t fun either! I’ve experienced that one… And remember, they could always just break a window and still get away with your vehicle. Maybe one day we won’t have to worry about thieves. Wouldn’t that be nice!
Megan McAdams