Manitoba Public Insurance is urging vehicle owners not to leave their keys in their cars. The number of cars stolen with keys left inside is on the rise, up 11 per cent this spring from 2014.

Spokesperson Brian Smiley says it's clear people have become complacent in the protection of their keys.

"Ninety-nine per cent of the most at-risk vehicles in Winnipeg are protected by immobilizers, meaning they cannot be stolen unless the thieves get their hands on the keys."

Since immobilizers were introduced in 2005, auto thefts have decreased by 83 per cent since then, however the safety device won't work if thieves get a hold of the keys.

Smiley adds the message here is to protect your keys to avoid an auto theft.

He goes on to say that rural Manitoba isn't immune to this type of auto theft either. Local police agencies have been amping up warnings lately against leaving keys in unattended vehicles.

"We know that of the nearly four-hundred thefts over a three month period in 2015, of that four-hundred about a hundred and sixty involved vehicles in rural Manitoba."

Smiley says keys need to be taken with the driver when they leave the vehicle and not left in the console, under the floor mat or in the ignition.