Police took less then half an hour to track down a car that was stolen after being left with its engine running. 

Shortly after 7.30am on Sunday morning North Yorkshire Police received a call from a man reporting his car had just been stolen from outside a shop in Colburn.

The man had stopped outside the shop and left the engine running with the car unlocked when it appeared an opportunistic thief had jumped in and driven away.

A police spokesman said "We quickly responded to the report and 24 minutes later found the vehicle in a residential street with a man in the driver’s seat.

"He was swiftly detained and following a roadside breath test found to be over the legal limit as well as driving with only a provisional licence.

"We arrested him on suspicion of vehicle theft, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, driving without insurance and driving whilst under the influence of alcohol.

"The 22-year-old man has now been released under investigation."

Police also urged motorists to turn off their engines and lock their vehicles when leaving them.

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