A COURT has heard how a man was caught trying to steal a car in Eastbourne whilst the owner left it to warm up.
37-year-old Chasey Smith from Cambridgeshire has been charged with attempted theft of a vehicle, after he was discovered sitting in the driver seat of the owner’s vehicle.
The owner of the vehicle started their engine, early morning on Monday 20th to help remove frost following overnight freezing temperatures, and returned moments later to find a male sitting in the driver seat.
After confronting the male, he made off on a pushbike.
The owner was able to provide a good description and image of the suspect male.
It was later discovered that Smith had travelled from Cambridgeshire earlier that day in a potentially stolen vehicle, which was later found abandoned.
He was located the same day by police in Eastbourne where he was arrested and subsequently charged with theft of a motor vehicle and appeared in Court yesterday (22 January).
A spokesperson for Sussex Police said: “It serves as a timely reminder in light of recent weather to be cautious when leaving a car unattended to defrost, as leaving a car running can make it an “easy target” for theft.”
The man has been bailed until 5 June 2025.
