I’ve been left with no car after terrifying de-icing mistake – take extra steps to stay safe
A MUM has been left with no car after a terrifying de-icing mistake- with cops revealing extra steps drivers should take to stay safe.
Kasia Wasilewska, 34, from Stoke-on-Trent, had left her Nissan Juke’s engine running when a brazen thief pushed her son out the way and sped off in the motor.
She had popped back in the house to fetch an ice scraper, leaving her son Fabian holding the car keys.
But when the mum came back outside, she found Fabian shaken up – and the car nowhere to be seen.
The 10-year-old said a man had grabbed the keys and shoved him out of the way.
Kasia said her bank card, ID and driving licence were all in the car, which she had saved up to buy.
The brazen thief even tried to use the card to buy himself a snack at Greggs.
Now mum-of-one Kasia is warning other drivers to be wary of thieves when de-icing their motors.
She told the Stoke Sentinel: “What has happened to us is horrible. It’s such a shock.
“Fabian is still thinking this was his fault when I explained there is nothing he could have done.
Kasia added: “I believe there have been a few incidents of cars being stolen when someone was defrosting them.
“I just want to make people aware of this so it doesn’t happen to them.”
Cops found the car the next day on Northcote Street, a ten-minute drive away from Kasia’s home.
A 49-year-old man from Stoke has been arrested over the alleged vehicle theft at 10.45am on Sunday.
POLICE WARNING
Inspector Mark Burslem said drivers should take “extra steps” to stay safe when defrosting their cars.
He said: “Vehicle theft is a priority for all ten local policing teams across Staffordshire.
“We will go after those responsible and we will protect the hard-earned belongings of our communities.
“The cold weather has brought with it an increased number of reports of attempted vehicle thefts whilst cars are being left to defrost.
“It might be convenient to do so, but it’s also convenient for thieves and opportunists.
He added: “We are urging everyone to stay with their vehicles whilst they are defrosting.
“By taking extra steps to limit the chances of being targeted by thieves, we can continue to tackle vehicle theft and make progress against those responsible.”