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Stolen vehicles in New Canaan are running at nearly twice last year’s pace so far in 2026, Police Chief John DiFederico told members of the Police Commission at their July 8 meeting, citing a pattern that has persisted despite repeated warnings from the department.
Year-to-date through June 30, 15 vehicles have been stolen in town, compared to eight over the same period in 2025, according to the department’s monthly statistics. Larcenies from motor vehicles have risen even more sharply over the same stretch, jumping from three year-to-date in 2025 to 15 so far this year.
DiFederico said the cause is largely the same as it has been.
“Please don’t leave your keys in your car,” he told commissioners at the meeting, held at police headquarters, noting two thefts in the prior week alone had involved keys left inside the vehicles. “We’ve been having … two in the past week or so with keys that were left in the vehicles.”
Asked whether the trend had improved, commissioners confirmed it had not.
The numbers echo a problem the department has flagged in the past—for example, when stolen vehicles more than doubled from 17 to 40 in 2024 compared to the year before. At that time, DiFederico said that in nearly every case, the stolen vehicle had been left unlocked with the keys inside.
“That’s how it’s happening 99% of the time,” he said then.
The New Canaan Police Department has been pushing prevention reminders on its Instagram page, @newcanaanpolice, urging residents to never leave keys in the car, always lock their doors, remove all valuables from their vehicles, and follow these steps both during the day and at night.
“Our department continues to investigate vehicle break-ins and stolen vehicles occurring both during the day and at night, where vehicles are being left unlocked and often with the keys inside,” the department wrote in a recent post. “We often talk to people who have no idea this happens in New Canaan. We try to share this information in a variety of formats, but we can’t reach everyone without your help.”
Anyone with information about a vehicle theft or suspicious activity is asked to contact NCPD at 203-594-3500.
It’s interesting that with all these Flock cameras around, auto thieves are not in the least deterred. Makes you wonder if it’s worth the expense and loss of privacy.
The PD has never stated the Flock has actually been used to solve any cases. While I don’t know what the Flock system costs NC, I assume it’s not worth the recovery of cars that are insured.
The biggest issue is that people actually leave their keyless entry fobs in the car. It’s the worst automotive invention ever.