Lehigh County District Attorney James B. Martin, the Lehigh County Auto Theft Task Force, the Pennsylvania Auto Theft Prevention Authority (ATPA) and the American

Automobile Association (AAA) are warning drivers not to leave their cars unlocked, unattended and running, or “puffing,” this winter.

Police are distributing ice scrapers with a prevention message and offering free posters to local businesses, especially convenience stores, to help raise awareness.

More than 399 vehicles were stolen in Lehigh County last year.

“The Lehigh County Auto Theft Task Force is one of the most active anti-theft units in the state,” Martin said. “Auto theft has decreased 17 percent from 2014. That is attributable in large part to the Task Force’s high-tech, coordinated effort to identify and eliminate organized theft rings. We’re asking the public to help us minimize these highly preventable thefts, which are crimes of opportunity, in all neighborhoods.”

The Task Force is one of the only ones in the state that tracks statistics on vehicles that are stolen with the keys inside. In 2013, 48 vehicles were stolen with keys inside; in 2014, 162 vehicles; and in 2015, 129 vehicles. From December 2015 to January 2016, 27 vehicles had been stolen with keys left inside.

“Locking your car is the first line of defense,” said Steve Wheeler, ATPA executive director.

“It’s common sense but not common practice. About half of all of Pennsylvania’s stolen cars were left unlocked, many with the keys inside, and some running and unattended.”

Martin said a recent case highlights why the puffing campaign is so important and why the public should heed the message.

An Allentown woman had left her 2016 Toyota Corolla running on West Chew Street the morning of Feb. 18. She had left the car running for about 10 minutes. When she left her home to go to the vehicle, she discovered it was missing.

Allentown police received the report of a stolen vehicle just before 8 a.m. As police reports were being prepared, Whitehall Township police reported that there was a crash on the Sixth Street Extension by Jordan Park.

Police determined that the vehicle had been stolen. The driver fled the scene.

Police determined that it was the vehicle that earlier had been stolen from West Chew Street. The vehicle had heavy front end damage and was not drivable. The case is still under investigation.

Auto thefts have a ripple effect. Stolen vehicles often are used to commit other violent crimes. When motorists leave mail, bills, work files, other sensitive, personal and identification information, house keys and garage door openers in their vehicles, they are vulnerable to identity theft and burglaries, Martin said.

AAA urges motorists to ask their auto insurance agents about discounts for anti-theft or vehicle recovery devices. “Pennsylvania is one of nine states that requires insurers to provide car owners with discounts on comprehensive insurance rates for anti-theft devices,” said Jana L. Tidwell, manager of public and government affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “This discount is applied when the vehicle has an activated factory or after-market recovery device or tracking system such as GM’s OnStar system, LoJack, or Teletrac. Such devices have been quite successful in recovering stolen vehicles, in leading law enforcement to chop shops and in thwarting the export of stolen cars.”

If the anti-theft device was factory installed, the VIN number should trigger the discount, according to Pennsylvania state insurance guidelines. If the anti-theft device was installed after market, proof of installation, usually in the form of an installation receipt, is required to receive the discount.

AAA reminds motorists that puffing doesn’t enhance a vehicle’s ability to perform on the road. “Today’s automobiles have fuel injection systems rather than carburetors so they do not need a long warm-up time to keep from having drivability concerns,” Tidwell said. “Even in very cold temperatures, modern vehicles --those built after 1990 -- require no more than 10 to 30 seconds to get oil moving through engines.”

Following these simple, common sense tips at home, work and on vacation can spare motorists the hassles and expenses of having their vehicles stolen:

• Lock vehicles and take keys every time. For most drivers, it’s a habit to leave the keys in the vehicle or to take them with them. Motorists should double check that they have their keys as they walk away from their vehicle. No places are safe from vehicle thefts, not even driveways.

• Do not leave vehicles “puffing” -- running and unattended. It is tempting to leave heaters on to keep vehicles warm, especially when motorists leave for short periods of time to go into convenience stores or to make quick stops. However, it takes a thief only a few seconds to steal a vehicle. It also is illegal to leave a vehicle running and unattended on a public road in Pennsylvania.

• Don’t leave valuables in vehicles. Leaving cell phones, mail, garage door openers, wallets, computers or other devices or valuables in a vehicle attracts thieves and invites identity thefts and burglaries.

The public can view surveillance video of puffers and stolen vehicles on ATPA’s website, www.watchyourcar.org.

Created in 1994 by the General Assembly, ATPA combats auto theft by providing grants statewide to law enforcement agencies, conducting public education initiatives and providing specialized training. Since ATPA’s inception, the Commonwealth has had a 73 percent decrease in vehicle thefts, compared with a national decrease of 53 percent.

For more information about auto theft in Pennsylvania, statistics, and resources, visit www.watchyourcar.org.