News

Police: ‘High Percentage’ of Stolen Vehicles Had Keys Left Inside Them; NCPD Offering Free Security Assessments

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Police said last week that in nearly all cases, the vehicles that are stolen from New Canaan are left unlocked with the keys left inside. Asked during a Board of Selectmen meeting whether cars ever get stolen when keys are not left in the car, Police Chief John DiFederico said, “It happens, [but] not very frequently.”

“The high percentage of time, the keys are left in the vehicle,” DiFederico said during a Jan. 21 budget presentation to the selectmen, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. “Fortunately with our license plate reader program, we are identifying some of the cars, not only in our jurisdiction, but we’ve had some success stories.”

The comments came following a report from police that the number of stolen cars more than doubled in New Canaan in 2024. Deputy Chief Andrew Walsh said that the department is working on the cases, and just that week authorities were able to recover one vehicle off of a shipping container in New Jersey.

News

E-Bikes in New Canaan: Police To Focus on Educating Core Group of Young Riders

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New Canaan Police are preparing to educate local youth about e-bikes, officials say, as authorities expect young riders to re-emerge downtown once the weather warms up. Police Chief John DiFederico said this week that he plans to assign the department’s school resource officers downtown on Thursday or Friday afternoons when the e-bikes appear to get the most use. “So they [the SROs] can put a name to the face and we can get a roster of who’s riding their bikes up and down Elm Street,” DiFederico told members of the Board of Selectmen during their regular meeting, held Tuesday at Town Hall and via videoconference. The chief’s comments came during a discussion of the Police Department’s proposed spending plan for fiscal year 2026. 

New Canaan last year began seeing young people using the motorized vehicles with some frequency, especially in the downtown. In Connecticut, e-bike motors are not supposed to exceed 750W.

Government

New Canaan Police: Stolen Vehicles More Than Doubled in 2024

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The number of vehicles stolen from New Canaan more than doubled in 2024, officials say. Stolen vehicles increased from 17 to 40 year-over-year, according to Police Chief John DiFederico. The figures represent a 135% rise. “It was not a good year for vehicles,” he told members of the Police Commission during their regular meeting, held Wednesday night at Town Hall and via videoconference. The nature of the thefts appears to be changing in a dangerous way, DiFederico said.

Government

Police: Speed Enforcement Won’t Solve Mill Road Problems

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Most motorists are traveling at reasonable speeds on Mill Road, according to new data released by the Police Department, meaning a perceived public safety issue on the residential street cannot be solved by radar enforcement alone. Residents about two months ago raised concerns to the Police Commission about speeding motorists zipping by pedestrians and others on the narrow, windy road in southeastern New Canaan. The department followed up by gathering data on driver volume and speed over about two months, getting consistent results, according to Police Deputy Chief Andrew Walsh. 

The 85th percentile of motorists on Mill—a data point that traffic consultants view as indicative of overall speeds—travelled at about 28 mph at last count, while the maximum speed on the road was 45 mph, Walsh told members of the Police Commission at their Nov. 21 meeting. “In looking at it, it seems to be less of an enforcement possibility to be dealt with,” Walsh said at the meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. 

He continued: “We had our officer set up a few times, and to no result. The speeds are spread out.

Government

Town To Purchase Additional License Plate Readers, Security Cameras for NCPD

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Municipal officials this week approved a $67,500 contract to purchase five license plate readers and eight security cameras for the New Canaan Police Department, to be installed around town. The contract with Flock Group Inc. will “supplement what we currently have” at NCPD, according to Police Chief John DiFederico. “We currently have 10 cameras,” DiFederico told members of the Board of Selectmen at their regular meeting, held Tuesday at Town Hall and via videoconference. “This is to get into a contract for five more and eight video cameras. This will be in addition to the 10 we currently have with the company.”

First Selectman Dionna Carlson and Selectmen Steve Karl and Amy Murphy Carroll voted 3-0 in favor of the contract. 

The funds are coming from a state grant that the town’s grant writer, Greg Reilly, was able to secure, DiFederico said.