Sometime overnight last Wednesday to Thursday, Aug. 17 to 18, about 15 vehicles parked on several residential streets near the center of town were entered, and in some cases items were taken.
The vehicles were on Bailey Avenue, Stony Brook Road South, Robin Hood Lane and Rocaton Road. Not one of the vehicles — cars, SUVs and one pickup truck — had been locked.
You can see this statement on the back of Darien Police patrol cars: “LOCK YOUR CAR. EVERY TIME. EVERYWHERE.”
Among the thefts, residents at different places reported some odd items taken:
- A “radio face plate” (a dashboard panel used when a car radio is not installed in a car) valued at $80 was taken from a 1996 Honda parked on Bailey Avenue.
- Four cases of plastic bottled water valued at a total of $30 were reported stolen from a home on Rocaton Road.
Police took DNA samples from some of the vehicles.
These instances were reported to police (in cases where nothing was taken, the glove compartment or console were left open or obviously rifled through):
- Two cars parked outside the same home: two black sunglasses, each valued at $10, were taken from a 2014 Ford Explorer; a 2016 Ford pickup truck was also entered, but nothing was taken from it.
- Nothing was taken from either a 2004 Ford Explorer nor a 2003 Workhorse recreational vehicle parked outside a house.
- From one unlocked vehicle a garage door opener was used to get into a garage, but nothing was taken from the garage.
- Outside one home: an iPod valued at $100 and the “radio face plate” (see above) were taken from a 1996 Honda; a 1994 Honda and a 2002 Volvo were entered, but nothing was taken from either vehicle.
- Three vehicles parked outside one home were burglarized: From a 2016 GMC sport utility vehicle, $20 in cash was taken; from a 2014 red Mini Cooper, a cell phone charger was stolen; from a 2015 Volkswagen Golf, a gym bag was taken that contained clothes and $20 in cash.
- A 2013 Chevrolet Avalanche was entered, but nothing taken.
Vehicles were entered, each parked at a different residence:
- From a 2014 Lexus, nothing was taken.
- From a 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee, nothing was taken.
- From a 2007 BMW, nothing was taken.
- From a 2010 Lexus, a new (presumably empty) Tumi brand leather wallet valued at $150 was stolen.
- Nothing was taken after a 2008 Toyota Sequoia was entered.
- A 2011 Chevrolet Suburban was entered. Reported stolen: Four cases of plastic bottled water.