Police are linking four separate cars thefts from Teesside driveways which occurred early on Wednesday and Thursday mornings.
After three vehicles were stolen from driveways yesterday morning after being left unattended with the engine running to de-ice, a black Audi was taken from a driveway in Billingham at around 7.30am today.
The Audi A4 had been left unattended on Wallington Road with its engine running to heat up, but within the short time the owner went inside the house it was stolen.
The vehicle was recovered 19 minutes later in the Hardwick area of Stockton using a GPS tracking system.
Grandfather Linton James was "absolutely gutted" when his Vauxhall Corsa was taken from his Eaglescliffe home yesterday morning.
He started his engine to warm the car before going back inside to get a cup of coffee.
The car was gone when he went back outside just moments later.
"I was gone 20-30 seconds at most," Mr James said. "It was literally a matter of seconds.
“I went back out and the car was gone. There was no one around. It was just gone.”
Police today reminded members of the public not to leave their cars unattended with the engines running.
A spokeswoman said: “We have had four very similar incidents, all within the Stockton area, over the last couple of days.
"At this time the incidents are being linked, however, it is important to remember that an unattended vehicle can be stolen within a matter of seconds and that it can happen in any area so please do not leave vehicles unattended with the engine running.”
No arrests have been made at this time and none of the three vehicles stolen yesterday have been recovered.
Officers also warned that owners who do have their unattended vehicles stolen may not be able to make an insurance claim.
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