An unlocked sport utility vehicle with its keys left inside was stolen from the driveway of 19 Sylvan Road on Sunday, Nov. 25, police were told by the owner, who was visiting a friend.
Darien police gave these additional details about the incident and the following other recent incidents involving thieves entering vehicles in town:
NOV 25 — 19 SYLVAN RD
Image from state police / Police
State police published this image on social media earlier this year.
The SUV, a 2011 BMW X5, was last seen in the driveway at about 9 p.m., the victim told police. She said that by 11:45 p.m., not three hours later, she realized it was missing.
Inside the SUV was a pocketbook in which she had her driver’s license, bank cards, about $1,000 in jewelry and $300 in cash.
NOV 13 — 22 DUBOIS ST
Another BMW X5, also unlocked and with its keys inside, was stolen in town 12 days before the one on Sylvan Road.
On the back of Darien Police patrol cars: “Lock your car. every time. Everywhere.”
This one was parked overnight from Nov. 12 to 13, Monday to Tuesday, outside a house at 22 Dubois St. and last seen at 7 p.m. By 6 a.m., the victim told police, she realized that the SUV was missing. By 6:08, she was on the phone to police.
In this case, police detectives contacted “BMW Assist” a service that was able to locate the X5 parked at 47 Stanley Street in New Haven. Detectives went there and conducted a detailed examination for evidence.
In the vehicle they found a driver’s license for a Waterbury resident (quite a few overnight vehicle thefts in Darien in the past year have been found in Waterbury, where teenage thieves have traveled to various towns opening unlocked vehicles and stealing items from them, or stealing the vehicles when keys are found).
The owner made arrangements to retrieve the vehicle.
NOV 11 to 12 — 12 GIDEON LANE
Sometime overnight from Nov. 11 to 12 (Sunday to Monday), an unlocked vehicle parked outside a house at 12 Gideon Lane was entered and the owner discovered that there was no longer a jar with an estimated $30 in change at 12 Gilead. (Any balm at Gideon Lane? Police didn’t say.)
The victim reported the theft to police at 10:19 p.m. on Nov. 12.
NOV 15 to 16 — HOLMES AVE, HOLMES CT
Unlocked vehicles parked overnight outside homes at these addresses on Holmes Avenue and Holmes Court were reported entered sometime overnight from Nov. 15 to 16, Thursday to Friday. Victims said nothing was taken from any of them:
- 125 Holmes Ave. — Glove boxes and center consoles were open in both a Toyota Highlander and a Subaru Outback.
- 124 Holmes Ave. — A vehicle’s passenger side door was found ajar and the center console open.
- 130 Holmes Ave. — The passenger-side door of a Honda Pilot was found ajar and the console and glove box both open.
- 11 Holmes Ct. — The interior of a Jeep Cherokee was found to have been rifled through.