Greenwich Police on Monday morning said that a number of vehicles have been stolen from town this month.
Three cars were stolen over the weekend from the west side of town, including two vehicles from Hollow Wood Lane – a 2008 GMC Sierra pickup truck and a 2012 Honda Pilot. Also, a 2017 Chevy Cruz was stolen from Monica Road.
Though Greenwich isn’t the only town being targeted, Lieutenant Slusarz said residents should note that there is more at stake than a stolen car.
“We believe one group is coming from Waterbury, but there are other groups,” Slusarz said, adding that often the young people take the stolen cars for joy rides, jeopardizing safety of residents and law enforcement alike.
“It’s mostly young people, 15 to 21, coming down and taking these cars and engaging in risky behavior,” Slusarz said. “They are checking the doors, and when they find a car with the key in it, they drive away with it.”
Slusarz said that in addition to several high speed chases, that in Ridgefield, a young girl who was involved in auto thefts was shot by a home owner.
“High speed chases don’t end well,” Slusarz said. “These are young people that aren’t making good decisions. Let’s not help them. Let’s not leave keys or key fobs in the car. Lock your car. Take your keys with you.”
Slusarz said the thefts are mostly occurring during the overnight hours.
“If you happen to see something unusual like people walking in and out of driveways, or an unusual car stopped in the middle of the road, call us,” Slusarz said.
In addition to the three cars stolen from the west side of town, on Nov 12, a 2017 Audi S6 was stolen from Willow Road at 10:00pm. It was taken from a driveway and the keys were in the vehicle.
Also, on Nov 12, a 2015 Land Rover Range Rover was stolen from a driveway on Harbor Drive. The keys were left in the car.
One on Nov 10, a 2015 Chevy Suburban was stolen from Shoreham Club Road. That car too was unlocked and the keys were in the car.
On Nov 9, a 2017 BMW 750 was stolen from a driveway on Zaccheus Mead Lane.
On the same day, on Round Hill Road a 2016 Mercedes GL 450 was stolen from a driveway. That car also had the keys inside.
On Monday afternoon, Greenwich Police Chief Heavey issued a statement on the increase of vehicle thefts over the past several months.
“In the first two weeks of November, eight vehicles were stolen from our Town,” Heavey wrote. “All of these vehicles had two things in common: they were unlocked and they had their keys in them.”
Heavey aid car thieves often engage in other criminal activity while in Greenwich, such as burglaries and larcenies.
“They generally have little regard for the safety of others and will often run from police,” Heavey said. “Many have crashed stolen cars injuring themselves and others.”
Heavey said police seek residents’ help in stopping these crimes by following these simple tips:
How to protect your vehicle
- Don’t leave your keys in your car.
- Close your windows and lock your doors whenever you leave your car, regardless of how long you plan to be gone.
- Park in well-lit areas.
- Keep your car in a garage if you have one.
- Use an anti-theft device whenever you leave your car.
- Immediately report any suspicious activity to the police.
- Hide your valuables.