A woman who went for a walk with her dog in Woodland Park late this Monday afternoon was careful to lock her 2010 Honda when she left it in the parking area off of Middlesex Road.
But that didn’t prevent her purse, left on the passenger-side floor, from being stolen, along with the credit cards cash, identifying documents and personal checks in it, police were told.
In the past, in Darien and elsewhere, thieves have gone to the parking lots of parks and other spots where they expect owners to be gone for enough time to allow the thief to smash a window and make off with a purse.
Police have suggested leaving items like purses in car trunks — but putting them in trunks before parking in a lot at a park. Thieves have been known to watch for people doing that, too.
This kind of theft is different from cars parked unlocked, overnight outside of homes, police have said. Thieves stealing from those cars like to be quiet, so they almost always only go after unlocked ones.
The theft at Woodside Park took place sometime between the time the woman parked, at 4:45 p.m., and the time she got back, at 5:30 p.m., Monday, May 3. The rear, passenger-side window of the car had been smashed.