Police departments across the valley are issuing an annual reminder now that the weather has gotten colder: Don't leave your car warming up in the driveway unattended.

The warning seems like common sense. But Salt Lake County Sheriff's Lt. Don Hutson said they wouldn't have to give the safety tip annually if cars didn't keep being stolen.

"I don't know how many different ways you can say there are a lot of people out there trying to victimize people. And there's no easier target than a car warming up and waiting for a thief to drive away," he said.

Between late Monday night and early Tuesday morning, Hutson said, there were four vehicles stolen in relatively the same area. At least two of them, he said, were left warming up in the driveway. All the vehicles were stolen between 4700 South and 6200 South and in the area of 5400 West.

Salt Lake police detective Dennis McGowan said it isn't just vehicles left running in driveways that are traditionally stolen, but vehicles left in front of convenience stores.

"They'll run in and get a cup of coffee and think, 'I'll just be gone for a minute,' " he said.

Police say there are criminals who wander through neighborhoods in the morning looking specifically for vehicles to steal.

— Pat Reavy