Motorists who do not want to jeopardise their cheap car insurance premiums need to be wary of criminals, it has been claimed.

Tracker - the stolen vehicle recovery systems specialist - warned a number of vehicles have been stolen in the UK recently after they were left to defrost with the engine running.

As a result, it has produced a list of some of the more common car crimes and is urging drivers to be vigilant.

Burglaries where vehicle keys are targeted were highlighted as being one of the main risks to motorists.

Tracker claimed drivers should be particularly cautious about leaving keys on hall tables or kitchen worktops.

It also urged people to be wary of fraudsters who steal identities in order to forge documents and obtain a duplicate key.

Commenting on vehicle crime in the UK, spokesman Stuart Chapman said: "Gone are the days when cars were stolen by smashing the side window and hot wiring the ignition."

Meanwhile, despite this warning from Tracker, the company recently revealed Home Office figures had shown thefts of vehicles dropped 12 per cent during the year ending June 2008.

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