A victim of a spate of car thefts amid freezing cold weather says he only left his vehicle running unattended to de-ice for a matter of minutes while he bid goodbye to his wife. As Miles Key was leaving for work, he spotted overnight frost had frozen the windows of his Peugeot 3008 which was parked on the driveway of his cottage on the outskirts of Tedburn St Mary, Devon.
He said he popped outside to turn the engine on for no more than five minutes as he said goodbye to his wife Louise. But as he walked through his kitchen he saw the back of his car disappearing as it was stolen by opportunists.
Miles's £8,000 company car was one of four vehicles stolen on Tuesday morning after owners left them unattended with the engines running in an attempt to de-ice them.
Police also received a report of a delivery van being stolen while it was pulled over at the side of the road.
Three have since been found - but the Keys' vehicle remains one of the two missing.
In an ironic twist, Miles and Louise told MailOnline they found one of the cars which had been stolen in Newton Abbot, https://da88.video/ Devon - some 22 miles away - locked and abandoned in a recreation ground car park just 100 yards from their home.
Miles had his car stolen as he left it outside warming up while he went back in the house to say goodbye to his wife
Police released information about these four vehicles and are asking for the public's help in finding them - three have since been found, but the Keys' vehicle remains missing
The Keys saw the five door red VW T-Roc on Tuesday night but by Wednesday morning it was no longer there. It has since been located, police say.
South West Water operations manager Miles said: 'It was a very sharp frost so I started up the engine to defrost the car which is a company vehicle.
'It was on my driveway so I didn't think it would be a problem. I left it for five minutes at most.
'We have frosts like this probably no more than four times a winter. If I was parked on the road outside my house I would have used my credit card to clear the frost.'
Miles was shocked as he saw his car being driven off - claiming a black BMW car was in hot pursuit and the two cars roared off along the 30mph road towards Whitestone near Exeter.
The Keys claim members of the public have been in touch to tell them that they saw the two cars together heading towards Crediton.
Care worker Louise, 55, said: 'A lady saw the black BMW car a few minutes after our car was stolen and she said the passenger was a young man wearing a black hoodie who was laughing his head off.'
Miles was shocked as he saw his car being driven off - claiming a black BMW car was in hot pursuit and the two cars roared off along the 30mph road towards Whitestone near Exeter
She said there has been suspicious activity in their village and nearby villages with people possibly posing as delivery drivers spotted taking photos of cars and checking out houses.
'I think it's an organised gang. I think our car was taken in an opportunistic crime, Louise said.
'I like to watch out for people because I want a sense of justice.'
Their car was six years old and worth around £8,000.
Louise said: 'It was a nice steady family car. We were hoping to buy it.'
The couple called police minutes after the theft and officers went to their home within half an hour. Patrols were told to keep an eye out for the two cars seen in convoy.
The couple say they do not know if there are any insurance issues over the theft.
Four cars were stolen from three different locations in Devon - all by 8.30am on Tuesday.
Miles said he didn't think it would be a problem to leave his car for a few minutes as it was on his driveway
Two cars were stolen from private homes and two were taken from a garage forecourt.
An investigation was launched following the spate of car thefts.
Police have since recovered three of the vehicles - and are appealing for help to find two which remain missing.
A pair of BMWs taken from Half Moon Village in Newton St Cyres have since been located by police in the Thorverton area.
A red Volkswagen T-Roc stolen from Newton Abbot was also recovered in Tedburn St Mary.
All three vehicles are now being forensically examined as part of ongoing enquiries.
A white Peugeot 3008, registration DA68 HLG, was taken from a property in Tedburn St Mary at around 8.10am.
Officers also received a report that a white Mercedes Sprinter delivery van, registration PN67 CEU, was stolen from Somerville Crescent in Exeter at around 3.10am. The driver had stopped to sort some parcels in the back of the vehicle when it was taken.
Devon and Cornwall police have warned drivers to beware of starting their cars during the freeze and leaving them unattended.
Chief Insp Simon Jenkinson said: 'We know it can be tempting to start your car and wait in the warmth of your home while ice defrosts but leaving your vehicle unattended while running can attract thieves and, if parked on a public road, you may be breaking the law. Please don't leave vehicles running if unattended.'