Dubai is to implement a new rule that will see you getting fined for making it ‘too easy’ for crooks to steal your car.
In Dubai, traffic fines are to be imposed on people who stupidly leave the key of their car in the ignition and then leave the car unattended, as this makes it a prime target for opportunistic crooks.
According to the traffic police of Dubai, the owners will have to shell out 300 United Arab Emirates dirhams (or €63) if they’re caught leaving the engine on while the car is unattended.
But why are motorists being convicted of making it ‘too easy’ for robbers to steal their car? Well apparently, the step has been taken as the number of cars stolen while their engine is running has increased substantially over the past number of years.
In 2011, a total of 10 per cent of cars stolen in Dubai had their engine still running at the time of the robbery. So it’s not as if Tommy Vercetti is roaming around the streets of Dubai car-jacking people.
Khalil Ibrahim Al Mansouri, Director General of the Department of Criminal Investigation said, “There are lots of reasons behind the car theft, neglect is the most important reasons where owners leave the car in operation, which makes it easier for thieves robbing them without trouble.
“The stolen car may be a gateway to other crimes such as armed robbery, not to mention disaster resulting from leaving the car running and in case of leaving children inside unattended.”
In fairness, you should be fined for leaving the keys of your car in the ruddy thing if you’re not going to be sitting in it. Should we deploy the same tactic over here?
