Caravan owners planning on towing their mobile home over the coming weeks have been warned to scrape their windscreens to rid them of ice and snow.
According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), this is the correct course of action rather than leaving vehicles unattended with the engine running to defrost the motor.
The organisation noted that thieves are increasingly taking advantage of such mistakes by making off with vehicles.
Lancashire police recently logged 27 thefts using this method in just two hours, despite the prison sentences handed to a number of crooks branded the Ice Bandits during 2009.
If a vehicle is left unattended with the keys in the ignition, insurance companies may be within their rights not to pay out in the event of a theft.
If a caravan happens to be attached to the car at the time then victims could be dealt a double blow in the event of such a crime.
Meanwhile, the ABI recently published a good practice guide to help customers buying insurance online.
