Lubbock Police confirmed there were four reported car thefts Friday morning and at least two were related.
LPD said that brings the total reported car thefts to 17 since January 1.
All 17 are currently under investigation.
Of the two related car thefts Friday morning, both cars were unlocked and the keys were in the ignition when the cars were taken.
“Got up, started the car, left the door open, ran in, told my wife her car is warm, gave her coffee like I always do like a good husband, and she came out and the car was gone,” victim Chuck Colbert said.
He said he was just following his normal routine in the winter months.
“Even if it’s out there for too long I came out and check on it and this was the shortest time I’ve ever done that,” Colbert said. “I was actually worried that she was going to get mad that I didn’t have it warmer but in two minutes, it was gone.”
South Plains Auto Theft Task Force Crime Prevention Coordinator Kat Anderson said what happened to Colbert isn’t unusual this time of year.
“People know that everyone wants a warm car,” Anderson said. “Thieves are opportunists and so if they don’t have a ride and they’re walking down your neighborhood and your car is running, they’re going to take it.
Anderson warned people to never leave their keys in the car unattended, a warm car isn’t worth the risk of having it stolen.
Colbert’s theft was also related to another on Friday morning.
After he called police and gave them his report, he noticed a flatbed truck parked on his street he had never seen before.
He said he touched the hood and it was still warm.
The flatbed had a decal advertising a local moving company in town and a phone number, so Colbert contacted the owner’s Sabrina and Jeff Davis.
“I come to find out it was a stolen vehicle,” Colbert said. “So their stolen vehicle was driven here and then my wife’s car was taken, and the flatbed was left here.”
Davis said her husband always leaves the keys in the ignition and that she was elated that her car was found.
Colbert got a call from police Friday evening that his car was also found.
Both victims said they learned a lesson: don’t leave your keys in the car.