Northern Ireland car insurance customers living in areas still affected by freezing weather conditions should make sure they don't leave their vehicle unattended with the engine running while they de-ice it. Otherwise, they're presenting an "open invitation to opportunist thieves" and risking becoming a victim of "frost-jacking".

That's according to researchers who have discovered that 42 per cent of motorists across Northern Ireland and the wider UK leave their vehicle unattended with the engine running while they return indoors to wait for the windscreen to clear.

Furthermore, uSwitch.com's experts say one in ten motorists are "blissfully unaware" that their car could be targeted by thieves while they de-ice it, while 41 per cent believe keeping an eye on their vehicle from the inside of their home is enough to prevent an opportunist thief from striking.

"It may be tempting to stay inside in the warm while leaving your car alone to de-ice, but insurers are likely to take a dim view on a claimant who has left themselves vulnerable to crime in this way," notes the site's Mark Monteiro. "If your insurer refuses to pay out you could be left footing the bill for a new car on your own."