Eight vehicles, all but one unlocked, were entered overnight from Saturday to Sunday, March 21 to 22 on two streets near downtown — on Highland and Lakeside avenues — and on McLaren Road South, about a half mile north, police said.
One SUV on Lakeside Avenue was locked, but it was stolen anyway, apparently after it was entered by someone breaking a window, police said. The 2017 Subaru Forester was involved in an accident at about 3 a.m. in Westport, after a short police chase there.
Darien police contacted the owner, who told them that the vehicle had been locked, with both set of keys in the home — but a valet key had been in the glove box. The spot where the SUV was parked had broken glass on the ground. Of the eight vehicles police know were entered, this was the only one on Lakeside Avenue.
Overnight break-ins of vehicles parked in residential neighborhoods are extremely rare, at least in Darien.
In another incident, police were called at 12:49 a.m. by a resident of 11 Highland Ave. The woman said she had been awake and tending to her young children when she noticed a motion-sensor light in her driveway was on.
When she looked outside, she saw more than one person running from her driveway toward two vehicles parked on Fairview Avenue. Her vehicle, a 2016 GMC Yukon, had been entered, but nothing taken.
These were the only two reports police received that night — all other information came the next morning, according to the police announcement on Monday.
Six Other UNLOCKED Vehicles Entered That Night
According to Darien police:
TWO MORE ON HIGHLAND AVENUE:
5 Highland Ave. — Vehicle 2019 Toyota Highlander — contents of the glove box and center console were disturbed, but nothing seemed to be missing. Report at 11:02 a.m., Sunday.
19 Highland Ave. — Vehicle 2018 Ford F-150 — contents of the glove box and center console were disturbed, but apparently nothing missing. Report at 8:17 a.m., Sunday.
FOUR ON McLAREN ROAD SOUTH:
2 Mclaren Road South — a 2017 Toyota Tundra — contents of the glove box and center console were disturbed, but apparently nothing missing. Report at 1:30 p.m., Sunday.
6 Mclaren Road South — a 2019 Subaru Impreza Complainant — contents of the glove box and center console were disturbed, but apparently nothing missing. Report at 11:44 a.m., Sunday.
7 Mclaren Road South — 2011 Toyota Sequoia — contents of the glove box and center console had been disturbed. A flashlight valued at $140 is missing. Report at 9:42 a.m., Sunday.
11 Mclaren Rd. South — a 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan — contents of the glove box and center console were disturbed, but apparently nothing missing. Nothing appeared to be missing. Report at 11:24 a.m., Sunday.