Our weekend storm didn't slow down one Omaha mom, but a cold weather crime brought her world to a screeching halt Monday morning.

Sarah Schirmer says she’s heard it before: thieves target cars warming up, left unattended in the morning. Monday morning those thieves targeted Schumer.

Omaha Police say the lessons are not being learned; people like Schumer are still leaving cars running, unattended. That is now making it easier for criminals to commit other crimes.

This morning was like any normal Monday for Schirmer. "Every morning I start the car and get it warm for the kids,” Schirmer said. She was helping her two year old son J.J. get ready, when her black SUV, left running unattended, was stolen from her driveway. “I heard them peel out and looked out the window and it was gone," Schirmer said.

Adding insult to injury, Schirmer just paid off the car loan Friday and changed her insurance. "I don't have full coverage anymore because I paid off my car and switched to liability, lowering the rates of everything,” Schirmer said.

It’s a lesson Omaha Police Sergeant Pam Volk says police have been warning drivers about over the years. "Especially with vehicles it makes it easier for criminals to steal them with the keys in running obviously unlocked but it also allows them to have vehicles to commit other crimes,” Sgt. Volk said “Whether that's to go burglaries, robberies, gas drive offs whatever they are going to do it makes it easier for them, harder for us.".

"I definitely learned a lesson,” Schirmer said. “They've taught me a lesson but other than that, I mean that's everything, you don't realize how much you need a car until it's gone.”

It is little comfort for Schirmer but Sgt. Volk says at least 10 cars were stolen from driveways, Monday morning alone. Sgt. Volk says if drivers absolutely have to warm up their cars and then go back inside their home, only use one key to start the car and take the rest of the keys, including house keys.

"Obviously the best choice, if you don't have a remote start is to sit in your car while it's warmed up,” Sgt. Volk said. “Some people can get out the other side of their car and lock the door and leave it running, if you absolutely don't want to sit in the car and warm it up, anything that's going to slow a thief down.”

Schirmer's car is described as a 2001, black Oldsmobile Bravada. It has Nebraska license plates, SIS 894. Citizens are asked to call Omaha Police at 402-444-4877 with any tips or information of the car.