New Canaan Police on Sunday morning received four complaints of vehicles illegally entered while parked in residential driveways, including three located near each other in the northeastern part of town.
At about 4:37 a.m., officers investigated a complaint of a locked car forcibly entered on Ramhorne Road, according to a press release issued by Police Chief Leon Krolikowski. A rock was used to break a window and $25 cash was stolen from the vehicle’s center console, he said.
About five hours later, at 9:42 a.m., and then at 11:34 a.m., residents of nearby West Hills Road reported to police that unlocked vehicles parked in their driveways had been entered, though nothing was stolen, Krolikowski said.
Finally, at about 9:54 a.m., officers investigated report that an unlocked car parked in a driveway on West Cross Road, just below the Merritt Parkway in southwestern New Canaan, had been illegally entered, the chief said. A purse with credit cards and a driver’s license was stolen, he said, and some of the credit cards later were used in Bridgeport and Shelton.
Through the first nine months of 2021, New Canaan Police received complaints of 36 larcenies from motor vehicles in town, compared to 32 for the same period the year before. The larcenies from vehicles come on the heels of three residential burglaries in New Canaan in October.
“Criminal gangs are active throughout Fairfield County,” Krolikowski said the press release. “In the past, some of the vehicles stolen in Fairfield County were used in violent crimes. We urge our residents to be cautious and practice good crime prevention strategies.”
The police chief re-issued these tips:
- KEYS: When unattended NEVER leave the key to your home or key/key fob to your car inside a vehicle or in a place where a thief can find them. Do not leave the valet key, key fob or garage door opener inside of your vehicle.
- LIGHT UP YOUR HOME: At night, keep the perimeter of your home & driveway well lit. Low energy lighting switched on and off by photoelectric sensors (low light switches) is a cost-effective way to discourage criminals.
- LOCK-UP: ALWAYS lock all doors, garage doors and windows of your car and home whenever you leave, day or night, even for a short time. If you have a garage, put your car in it and lock/alarm both the car and the garage. All of the thefts from vehicles and vehicle thefts that occur in our Town involve unlocked vehicles.
- SECURE VALUABLES: NEVER leave valuables in your vehicle. Often, identity theft occurs when drivers’ licenses and credit cards are stolen.
- USE YOUR ALARM SYSTEM: ALWAYS activate your home and car alarm systems. Many successful crimes that occur in our Town involve houses or cars that have alarm systems that were not activated.
- SECURITY-VIDEO CAMERAS: Consider installing a good quality security/video camera that covers the interior/exterior of your residence and the street near it. The price point of camera systems has dropped recently making this a wise investment.