Despite the cold weather, police are reminding drivers not to leave their vehicles unattended while warming up after vehicles were stolen in Surrey and Maple Ridge.

After 8 p.m. on December 18, Surrey RCMP responded to a report about a stolen vehicle.

A driver had left a green Ford Explorer to warm up unattended outside a residence in the 13800 block of Grosvenor Road in Whalley.

Shortly thereafter, the vehicle was located abandoned in the driveway of a nearby residence on Howey Road.

However, a second vehicle, a white Volvo that had also been left to warm up, was subsequently stolen.

Not far away, officers located the Volvo and arrested a 35-year-old Surrey male suspect.

He has been held in custody until a court appearance. His identity has not been revealed.

Previously, Ridge Meadows RCMP stated in a December 12 news release that since December 1, they had received 27 reports of auto theft or theft from vehicles.

Ridge Meadows RCMP also announced that two male suspects had been arrested for alleged thefts from vehicles. Their identities or locations of the crimes were not disclosed.

Prior to that, Ridge Meadows RCMP had stated on November 20 that two vehicles, which had been left running unattended to warm up, had been stolen in Maple Ridge.