Unlocked cars parked overnight in driveways or near homes have been taken several times in the past week, and in some cases apparently by the same thieves, according to Darien police.
In some cases, the vehicles were found, often undamaged.
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See also: Vehicle Stolen Sept. 8 on Brookside Road
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Here’s a roundup of reports from Darien police, who haven’t arrested and charged anyone (investigations are continuing):
94 Old Kings Hwy. S. — sometime between 11 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 28 and 6:30 a.m., Monday
The owner, a 41-year-old Darien man, left keys in the 2008 Volvo XE70 valued at $10,000. Shortly after Darien police alerted other departments about the theft, state police said the car had been parked in front of a driveway (blocking it) on Cedarhurst Lane in Milford.
The owner found nothing missing from the car — except the keys to the ignition. The car was not processed for fingerprints since others had touched it in getting it away from the front of the driveway. The car was returned to its owner.
480 Middlesex Road — sometime from 8:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 2 and 7:45 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 3
A 2013 Volkswagen EOS, unlocked and with the keys in it, was stolen from the driveway. There were no signs of forced entry at the scene (like glass or plastic on the ground). At 5:15 p.m., a resident of 350 Mansfield Ave. told police that a suspicious car was in a neighbor’s driveway, parked there since about 7:40 a.m. It was the stolen Volkswagen.
The neighbor went into the car and even started it up, but police went through it, looking for fingerprints and taking DNA samples with swabs. Nothing was found to have been stolen. The car was returned to its owner.
411 Mansfield Ave. — sometime between 6 p.m., Friday, Oct. 2 and 7:45 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 3
The thief or thieves who left the Volkswagen on Middlesex Avenue may have been trading up. This home is 2 minutes by car or 18 minutes walking time from the Middlesex Avenue home mentioned just above.
From the driveway of the Mansfield Avenue house, a 2011 BMW X5 was stolen. The victim said he and his wife heard the sound of a door closing at about 3 a.m. The next morning, his car was gone. It had been left unlocked, with the keys inside. There were no signs of forced entry.
Police asked neighbors if they’d noticed anything suspicious, but none had.
The investigation in all three incidents is continuing.
You can see this statement on the back of Darien Police patrol cars: “LOCK YOUR CAR. EVERY TIME. EVERYWHERE.”