Unattended ute running in drive stolen
Planes at Dunedin Airport and State Highway 1 traffic near the airport turnoff were both caught in thick fog yesterday morning. Photo: Stephen Jaquiery
Police are warning motorists not to leave running vehicles unattended after a man warming up his ute had it stolen from right under his nose.
Police received a report of a vehicle being stolen from an address in Malvern St, Glenleith at 7.50am yesterday, Acting Sergeant Matt Nicols said.
The victim told officers he had left his Mitsubishi ute running in his driveway, waiting for it to warm up.
He left the ute and continued about his day, but when he went back outside, it was gone.
The vehicle was yet to be recovered, Sgt Nichols said.
Photo: Stephen Jaquiery
"[Be] mindful of not leaving your vehicle unattended while running. It creates an easy opportunity for offenders," he said.
The icy weather also led to numerous crashes throughout the city yesterday morning.
Police had received reports of four crashes during people's commutes to work: one near the Burnside overbridge, one in Brighton Rd, another on Highgate and a fourth in Three Mile Hill Rd.
All the crashes were minor.
Police reminded people as the weather got colder to drive to the conditions, allow extra time to get to a destination and increase following distances.
A van and a car slid into a ditch after slipping on ice on Three Mile Hill Rd yesterday. Photo: Stephen Jaquiery
MetService said yesterday there were areas of morning fog and frosts on an otherwise fine day for Otago and Southland.
The fog affected flights in and out of Dunedin Airport yesterday.
A flight from Christchurch to Dunedin (NZ5741), set to arrive at 7.40am, and one from Dunedin to Christchurch (NZ5758/SQ4501) departing at 8.10am were cancelled.
A Jetstar flight (JQ283) scheduled to arrive in Dunedin from Auckland at 11.15am and one departing from Dunedin to Auckland (JQ282) at 11.50am were delayed.
laine.priestley@odt.co.nz
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