SUV Stolen, Another Theft Attempted; Fairfield PD Warns Residents

FAIRFIELD, CT — The owner of an SUV watched Sunday as their vehicle was stolen from right outside their Fairfield condo, police said. The incident was the second of two attempted SUV thefts that occurred within minutes of each other over the weekend, according to police, who said that in both cases the vehicles were left running and unattended.

The first attempt occurred about 10:30 a.m. on Jackman Avenue, where a neighbor saw a black four-door vehicle pull up in front of a home and a passenger approach a gray Jeep Cherokee in the driveway that was left running via remote start, police said in a news release. The passenger, described as a short teen wearing black joggers and a camouflage hoodie, pulled on the handle of the SUV, and when the door didn’t open the teen returned to the black vehicle and fled toward Stratfield Road, according to police.

Just minutes later, police received a 911 call reporting a vehicle theft on nearby Melville Avenue, the news release said. A black 2017 Audi Q3 was stolen from a parking lot at the Dogwood Green Condos after the SUV was left running and unlocked with the keys inside, according to police. The owner saw their vehicle exit the parking lot and drive off, police said.

“We kindly, but in the strongest terms possible, urge residents to not leave your vehicles running unattended and to get in the habit of locking your vehicle every time you walk away from it,” police said in the news release.

Police are investigating the possibility that the two incidents are connected.