Two Norwalk teenagers admitted they were trying to steal a car in Darien when police caught them on Wednesday, June 3, and on Saturday to Sunday, June 7, a vehicle was stolen and later found in Hartford, police said.
On each of the nights, unlocked cars were targeted, and multiple vehicles were entered, Darien police said. Also on each of those nights: Home security cameras showed people creeping around at about 3 a.m. In the stolen-car incident, that didn’t stop a resident at the same address from leaving car unlocked.
The cars entered were at locations including streets well off the main roads in town and had one main thing in common — their owners had left them unlocked, and in at least one case, with the key or key fob inside.
Here are the details, as provided by Darien police (including accusations not proven in court):
THE 3 CASES TUESDAY TO WEDNESDAY
Teens Charged
At 2:54 a.m., a security camera at a home on Littlebrook Road picked up two males running up the driveway near a parked vehicle. Police were alerted (the announcement didn’t say how, but apparently somebody at home wasn’t sleeping).
On the back of Darien Police patrol cars: “Lock your car. every time. Everywhere.”
Police went to the scene and spoke with two males seen walking in the neighborhood. Both were 17-year-old Norwalk residents. When police asked them what they were doing walking around at close to 3 a.m., they first gave conflicting accounts and eventually admitted they were there to steal a car to drive home.
Police also found that one of the teens had two pairs of sunglasses on him. They were identified as having been stolen from a vehicle less than a third of a mile away at 109 Raymond Street (see below). Police also found that a vehicle had been entered at 101 Raymond Street that same night.
- Here’s a map showing the locations of the Tuesday-Wednesday night incidents, although the Littlebrook Road address is not being reported by Darienite.com, since there’s no indication there was an unlocked vehicle there.
The two were taken to Darien Police Headquarters and issued juvenile summonses charging each of them with criminal attempt at first-degree larceny. They were released to their parents on written promises to appear in Juvenile Court in Stamford.
109 Raymond St.
Two pairs of prescription sunglasses were stolen from an unlocked 2019 Land Rover parked outside 109 Raymond St. sometime overnight Tuesday to Wednesday, June 2 to 3.
The theft occurred sometime before 2:54 a.m., Wednesday, when the security camera at Littlebrook Road showed one of two teenagers who had the sunglasses with him.
One of the pairs was sold by Dolce& Gabbana and valued at $700; the other, a pair of Maui Jim sunglasses, was also valued at $700. The time of the police report was logged in at 11:23 a.m., that Wednesday.
101 Raymond St.
A woman told police that her unlocked 2018 Chevrolet Suburban was entered overnight, and the contents of the storage compartments had been emptied on the seats. Nothing appeared missing.
Police logged in the incident at 11:34 a.m. but did not say whether they received a call from the woman or found out about the vehicle entry from a police canvas of the neighborhood, a standard Darien police practice in these situations.
THE 3 OTHER CASES, SATURDAY TO SUNDAY
- Here’s a map showing the three Darien addresses where vehicles are known to have been entered illegally overnight, Saturday to Sunday.
19 Wilson Ridge Road — Mercedes Stolen
A man’s 2020 Mercedes GLS450, parked unlocked outside 19 Wilson Ridge Road, was stolen at about 3:17 a.m., and while the thieves weren’t caught, a security camera caught what they did.
Image from state police / Police
State police published this image on social media.
First, a car pulled up in front of the home at 3:09 a.m., and three males got out. They checked three vehicles parked in the driveway and one of the males found the key for the Mercedes.
Then the three left. They returned eight minutes later, at 3:17 a.m. and two of the males got into the Mercedes and drove it away. Police, whose involvement came at some expense from taxpayers, indicated they were notified about the theft at 9:57 a.m., Sunday.
The Mercedes GPS service was later used and located the car in New Britain (police didn’t say when). When police in that city found the car, the driver sped away and police began to chase it, but later broke off the chase.
At 5:12 p.m., Mercedes told Darien police that the car was somewhere on Torwood Street in Hartford. Hartford police confirmed it was there, and Darien police detectives went to the scene to process the car for evidence.
17 Wilson Ridge Road
A woman’s unlocked 2006 Toyota Prius was entered sometime overnight, the victim reported at 10:26 a.m., Sunday, June 7. Contents of storage compartments were dumped on the front seats. The only thing known to be missing: the car registration document.
309 West Ave.
Less than a mile away from Wilson Ridge Road and on the same night, a woman’s unlocked 2008 Nissan Xterra was entered.
The front passenger door was found open, and $200 in cash was missing from a wallet in the center console. The theft was reported to police at 9:54 a.m., Sunday.
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Recent Similar Reports
- Bank Cards Stolen from Unlocked SUV on Hollow Tree Ridge Road (June 2)
- Three Unlocked Cars Entered on Patton Drive on Same Night Last Week (May 28)
- Four Vehicles Entered Overnight on Edgerton St, Hollow Tree Ridge Rd, Thief Gets Wallet from One (May 21)
- Three SUVs Entered Overnight, May 4 to 5 on Hillcrest Ave, Miller Road (May 12)