The driver’s side rear door on a New Canaan man’s Honda went missing some time Monday from the Noroton Heights Railroad Station in Darien, officials said.
The theft included removing the door from its hinges on a 2015 Honda Accord and appears to have been done in the open, between 6 a.m. and 3:07 p.m. on Feb. 15, Darien Police told Darienite.com.
A DPW worker in Darien spotted the vandalized vehicle, according to police.
Parked by its owner, a New Canaan man headed for New York City, the car was on the south side of the tracks, not far from Hollow Tree Ridge Road and near some stairs by the platform.
The owner thought he had locked the car, police said. The lock and handle of the driver’s side front door had been tampered with. Police also saw bolts on the pavement near the car.
The driver’s side air bag was also stolen, along with a black gym bag containing clothing valued at $200. The victim’s wife arranged to have the car removed from the lot. Police were told it would cost an estimated $2,970 to get the door and air bag replaced.
There are few people at the station outside of commuting hours on a weekday, and Monday was Washington’s Birthday (and February school break is this week in Darien, as well as New Canaan), so there would have been even fewer people around, officials said. On the other hand, it must’ve taken some time to get the door off, they said.
Video surveillance recordings of the parking lot entrance and exit showed a maroon colored van, perhaps a Dodge, at the station at about 11 a.m. Police are investigating.