SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) -As temperatures drop, people tend to want to warm their cars by leaving their keys in the ignition, but car theft can happen in as little as five seconds.

This is one reason many drivers use remote start to warm their cars.

“November to January, February. Really, anytime it’s cold. I use it every day,” said Chad Weeden, regional manager at Creative Audio, who paid hundreds of dollars to have remote start installed in his car.

Cris Swaters, public affairs officer for the Springfield Police Department, says it’s a tempting target for thieves.

“It’s a crime of opportunity. A thief is going around looking for a car that’s running unattended,” said Swaters.

This is why some cities are taking a strict approach.

In Springfield, it is illegal to leave a car unattended

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