A police force has left people divided after giving drivers advice on the safest place to leave their car keys at night.
Greater Manchester Police prompted a string of amusing responses as they issued the tip on their Chadderton Facebook page, in a safety warning for anyone targeted by burglars. "Don't take your car keys to bed with you, leave them downstairs. Do not put yourself or a family member at risk," they urged.
But the advice did not go down well with everyone, with several people poking fun at the idea, the Manchester Evening News reports. "Perhaps I should leave them in the car to make it easier for a thief to steal it trouble-free," one person joked.
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Someone else chimed in: "Might as well leave the door open and leave them a brew and biscuits on the side."
While another follower pointed out: "I don't have a downstairs, I live in an apartment. What then?" And a different person similarly posed the question: "What if you live in a bungalow?"
However, others were more supportive of the message - with some even saying that following the advice had potentially saved them a dangerous run-in with burglars in the past. "For someone who has had their house broken into while alone upstairs with two kids I was very grateful I'd left the keys downstairs as that was all they wanted and were then gone," one person shared.
They added: "I got the car back but dread to think what we could have lost had they ventured upstairs!" The police's advice is echoed by the AA, who warn drivers not to be tempted to take their keys upstairs with them at night.
The force later issued further advice on where to keep your keys in order to deter criminals. "Store your keys away from doors, windows or any place it can be seen or easily located," they urged.
"Putting your key fob (including spares) in a metal box, fridge, or microwave to block the signal is a cost-effective way to defeat the criminals."
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