One Vehicle Stolen, Others Entered In New Canaan: Police

NEW CANAAN, CT — A car was stolen and items were taken from unlocked vehicles parked in New Canaan within the past week, according to police.

In a news release, Chief of Police Leon Krolikowski said a 2014 Mercedes ML350 was reported stolen from an open garage at a home on Old Studio Road. The vehicle, which was reported stolen Sunday around 8:30 a.m., was unlocked and had the key in it, Krolikowski said.

A wallet containing $500 in cash, a credit card and golf clubs worth $1,000 were inside the vehicle at the time it was stolen, Krolikowski said. Another unlocked vehicle in the same driveway was also entered, however nothing was reported stolen.

A few days prior, a town resident a town resident reported their vehicle had been entered while parked in the New Canaan Country Club parking lot early Friday afternoon, Krolikowski said.

According to Krolikowski, a credit card, $700-$800 in cash, a sterling silver card holder and a Florida operator's license were reported stolen from a purse left inside the vehicle.

The owner told police they may have accidentally hit a key fob and unlocked the vehicle, as there was no sign of a forced entry, Krolikowski said.

"Criminal gangs are active throughout Fairfield County," Krolikowski said in a news release. "In the past, some of the vehicles stolen in Fairfield County were used in violent crimes."

Krolikowski urged residents to be more cautious and practice good crime prevention strategies, such as the following:

• 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 and 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.