The Newark Police Department is reminding city residents not to leave their cars idling to warm them up in the winter after a series of car thefts.

Police say that 214 vehicles have been stolen in the city since January. But they say that many of the thefts could have been prevented since 90 of those thefts were of cars that were left idling.

"They think that by leaving the vehicles left running and idling it's going to warm up their cars any quicker than them just getting in their cars and driving for two or three blocks. It'll warm up in the same fashion,” says Lt. Rick Maldonado.

Newark police say that leaving a car idling is actually illegal in the city and they are starting to ticket drivers who do so. Fines range from $65 to $125.