1 Vehicle Reported Stolen, Others Burglarized In New Canaan: PD

NEW CANAAN, CT — An unlocked 2019 Toyota Highlander was reported stolen from a home in New Canaan Sunday morning, one of multiple vehicles reportedly broken into during the overnight hours between Saturday and Sunday, according to New Canaan police.

The Highlander was reported stolen just after 8 a.m. from a home on Orchard Drive.

New Canaan Police Chief Leon Krolikowski said that the owner "left the keys in the vehicle along with a purse, social security card, driver’s license, and credit cards."

A bag of clothing that also had been in the vehicle was found a short while later near the mailbox of a South Avenue home. The owner of that home reported that vehicles in their driveway also had been broken into, but nothing appears to have been taken. Inside the recovered clothing bag was a piece of mail belonging to a Silvermine Road resident, police said.

The Highlander was recovered in Bridgeport a couple of hours after it had been reported stolen, Krolikowski said.

In recent months, several vehicles have been reported stolen or burglarized in New Canaan, with most thefts occurring to unlocked ones.

Just after 9 a.m. on Sunday, a Horton Lane resident also reported to police that two unlocked vehicles at the home were burglarized. A wallet, driver’s license, jacket and student identification card were taken from one of the vehicles, but nothing was taken from the other, police said.

"Additional reports were received by the department of unlocked vehicles entered on Grace Street, South Avenue, and Main Street," Krolikowski said, adding that nothing was taken from the vehicles.

"Many towns in Fairfield County are experiencing similar crimes," he added. "It is probable that the crimes are being committed by the same suspects."

The chief urged residents to lock their vehicles and avoid leaving valuables inside.

"Often, identity theft occurs when drivers’ licenses and credit cards are stolen," Krolikowski said.