A DRIVER who left a car engine running while they popped into a Kidderminster shop returned to find the vehicle had been stolen.

Police warned drivers to switch their engines off if they left their vehicles unattended following the theft of the £3,000 Vauxhall Omega from outside Hoobrook Stores, in Chester Road South, on Friday. The S-reg car was taken at about 5.40am.

PC Keith Higgins, of Kidderminster police, said: "Owners should never leave their keys in the vehicle or leave the engine running when they pop into a shop or pay for petrol or when they are defrosting the windscreen on their own drive.

"They may well find their insurance does not cover them."

He advised drivers to always lock their vehicles and set the alarm, if there was one, even if leaving them for only a few minutes.

Witnesses or anyone with information about the Omega theft can contact police on 08457 444888.