ANCHORAGE - In the wake of two recent vehicle thefts, the Anchorage Police Department warns vehicle owners to be careful with where they leave their keys.

Anchorage police have received two reports of stolen vehicles at two local churches over the last two Sundays with very similar circumstances.

The first theft occurred October 7 at the All Saints Episcopal Church in downtown. A woman left her car keys in her coat pocket during the Sunday morning service. When she returned, her coat was gone, along with her 2009 Toyota Yaris from the church parking lot.

State troopers recovered her car in Bodenburg Creek in Butte, and the car had front-end and flood damage.

In the second case, a man and his wife attended the Sunday morning service at Saint John United Methodist Church on O'Malley Road. In a similar fashion, his pickup was stolen in the church parking lot, along with his jacket.

"We don't know for sure whether or not these two are related, but it's very uncanny the resemblance. Both incidents took place at churches, morning service, and folks who left their coats in the area designed to hang your coat," said APD Spokesperson Lt. Dave Parker.

The suspect in both cases have still not been identified, with the pickup from Sunday still missing. The man's truck is a blue 2006 Chevy Silverado with a camper shell with Alaska license plate: EZW171.

"If you find your vehicle's been stolen, get a hold of the police department right away, because that helps us locate it faster and we put that on a statewide computer system, so any officer that runs that plate will know that vehicle is stolen," urged Lt. Parker.

As temperatures tend to drop and it takes longer to warm your car, Anchorage police are urging motorists to keep thieves away by installing an auto-start, or staying in or nearby your your vehicle.

"Anytime you're out and about you should have those keys with you. Don't leave them in the car, don't leave the car sitting out there by itself to warm up, and definitely don't leave them in your coat where someone can get to them without you seeing," said Lt. Parker.

Residents with more information on the missing blue 2006 Chevy Silverado pickup with a camper shell (Alaska license #: EZW171) are asked to call APD at 786-8900.

Original Air Date: October 16, 2012