Once the snow falls, cars that refuse to start, stranded motorists, and leaving cars running to defrost, all present  opportunities for crime.

Car trouble is more prevalent in the cold, and being stuck with a car that won't start makes us vulnerable. This week, Minneapolis police are warning motorists to be on the look out for a man who initially pretended to help a woman start her car during the snow emergency, but then attacked her. After she was forced into the back seat of the car, she fought off her assailant and ran to safety. Minneapolis police has a list of personal safety tips and a roadside assistance program like AAA cost around $60 annually, and can come and jump start a car, or transport you and your car to a garage or safer location.

Every winter, drivers start their cars, leave them running to warm up, go inside to wait until the car is warm before starting their journey. And every year, car thieves steal them. Even if the car is locked, it's still easy for a thief to break in and drive away. Minneapolis police advises against leaving a car running unattended, which is actually illegal to do in Minneapolis. If you car is stolen with the keys in and the engine running, the Minneapolis Police Department will add insult to injury and give you a $34 ticket.

The first snow emergency of the winter takes many of us by surprise, and hundreds if not thousands of oblivious motorists have their cars towed by the city because they didn't realize there was a snow emergency, or didn't know what the parking rules during a snow emergency were.

If you park on the street, find out what the snow plow rules are for your city, and how to find out when a snow emergency has been called.

Minneapolis and St. Paul both have a complicated set of rules that are different in each city that involve not parking where the city plans to plow. Cities in the suburbs usually have a simpler system that may prohibit all street parking once a certain amount of snow has fallen, or ban street parking overnight all winter.

As well as knowing the snow emergency parking rules, you'll also want to know how to find out if a snow emergency has been called if your city. It's not universal - it's up to the individual city as to when to call a snow emergency.

Minneapolis and St. Paul both have automated systems to notify residents by text message and email, but even if you are signed up for notifications, it's prudent to keep a check on the city's website when the snow is falling so you are not taken unawares.

All about snow emergencies in Minneapolis

All about snow emergencies in St. Paul

Snow emergency rules for other cities in the Twin Cities metro area

Your city not on the list? Visit your city's website, usually www.ci.<your city's name>.mn.us and snow plowing information is usually listed under public works.

The average life expectancy in America is almost 80 years. The life expectancy of a person who is homeless is just 47 years. On Thursday, December 17, homelessness nonprofit Simpson Housing Services holds the 25th Annual Homeless March and Memorial Service in downtown Minneapolis.

The march, and service is to remember homeless people who died in Minnesota in 2009. Last year's service commemorated 131 people, the greatest number in the event's history.

The parade commences at 5 p.m. at the Hennepin County Government Center in downtown Minneapolis, and is lead by a giant puppet created by In The Heart of the Beast, whose solemn figure represents the extreme vulnerability of homeless people during the night, and the misery and isolation they experience.

The parade ends at Simpson United Methodist Church, 2740 1st Avenue South, Minneapolis, where the service begins at 6.30 p.m.

Following the service is a community meal at 7.30 p.m., sponsored by several local housing non-profit organizations.

The annual event is attended by many homeless people, those who work and volunteer with housing and homeless charities, and members of the public - all are invited to attend.

As well as honoring those who have died, the march and service serve to raise awareness of homelessness in Minneapolis at the start of winter, the hardest time to be without shelter.

Full event details are at Simpson Housing's website.

Have you ever thought about giving theater tickets as a holiday gift? Or are tickets for a holiday show just a little out of your budget this year?

On Tuesday, the St. Paul Arts and Culture Partnership brings us Raise the Curtain, one day of half price tickets to performing arts shows in St. Paul.  Some of the shows are before Christmas, some after, so there should be something to suit you whether you want discount entertainment now, or want to give tickets as a gift.

Shows include ballet, with the Ballet Minnesota's production of Classic Nutcracker, and an alternative perspective on another holiday classic, Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol, at the Park Square Theater.

There's three childrens' productions at the Steppingstone Theater, and there's cabaret, Stravinsky, hockey moms and plenty of musicals - 25 shows in all.

Here's the full list of the shows and where to get tickets from - some can be ordered by telephone, some by internet, some from the venue's box office. And tickets have to be purchased on Tuesday, December 8.