Police last Friday and on the weekend received reports of a stolen SUV as well as a vehicle that had been entered illegally and numerous complaints of stolen mail.
At about 8:27 a.m. on Dec. 17, officers were dispatched to Rosebrook Road to investigate a report of a stolen 2020 Ford Explorer left unlocked with its keys inside, according to a press release issued by Police Chief Leon Krolikowski. The same day, police received a report of a vehicle on Turtleback Lane West that had been entered with items stolen from it, Krolikowski said in the release.
The following day, Dec. 18, police took reports of stolen mail and packages. A resident of Wahackme Road reported finding a pile of mail from homes on Myanos, Chichester and Wahackme Roads.
“Officers also received a call from a United States Postal workers reporting they found mail scattered along Toquam Road and Windrow Lane,” Krolikowski said in the release. “Officers checked surrounding neighborhoods and discovered several pieces of mail scattered on various lawns on Weed Street, Windrow Lane, and West Road. The mail was returned to the owners. Officers were also notified by a United States Postal worker that there was a large collection of mail and packages on the ground on Mariomi Road. While checking the area, officers discovered mail had also been discarded on Cheese Spring Road.”
Wilton Police have reported similar thefts, the chief said.
Krolikowski issued these mail theft prevention tips:
- BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR: Get to know your neighbors, watch out for them, and report suspicious activity in your neighborhood immediately.
- CHECK YOUR MAIL OFTEN AND AVOID LEAVING MAIL IN YOUR RESIDENTIAL MAILBOX: Avoid leaving mail in your unsecured residential mailbox. Bring sensitive outgoing mail to the post office rather than leaving mail in your residential mailbox for pick-up.
- CONSIDER GETTING A LOCKING RESIDENTIAL MAILBOX: There are many residential mailbox options that allow mail to be delivered, but requires a key to retrieve the mail.
- REPORT MAIL THEFT TO OUR DEPARTMENT AND TO THE USPS at: https://www.uspis.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/MailTheftLink.html\
- REQUEST A VACATION HOLD EVEN IF YOU ARE ONLY AWAY FOR A FEW DAYS: More at: https://faq.usps.com/s/article/USPS-Hold-Mail-The-Basics
- SIGN UP FOR INFORMED DELIVERY SO THAT YOU WILL KNOW WHEN SENSITIVE MAIL WILL ARRIVE. More at: https://informeddelivery.usps.com/box/pages/intro/start.action