Police: Two cars stolen in Conn. with minors inside hours apart

“Please remember to be aware of your surroundings, secure your vehicles at all times and remove any items of value.” Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo

FAIRFIELD — Two vehicles were stolen in Connecticut with minors left inside within hours of each other on Monday, according to police. Now authorities say they believe the two incidents in Waterbury and Fairfield are related to one another.

In both cases the children, one 12, the other a teenager, got out of the car without incident shortly after it was taken, according to police. Both cars have since been recovered, and police in both jurisdictions are reminding residents to lock their doors.

Fairfield police said they responded to several calls reporting the theft of an occupied vehicle in front of 15 Handles at 1300 Post Road around 6:30 p.m. Monday.

Investigating officers learned that a couple had parked their car in the area and left the vehicle to make a purchase in a nearby business, police said. The vehicle was left running with a teenager inside, police said.

Police said a person then walked up to the car, opened the door and got inside. Police said the individual told the teenager to get out of the vehicle and the youth complied. The driver then sped away, police said.

Detectives in an unmarked car found the stolen vehicle in the area of Wordin Avenue in Bridgeport shortly after and followed the driver onto Interstate 95, then onto Route 8 before the driver took Exit 18. Police said officers lost sight of the vehicle, later finding it unoccupied on Caroline Street in Derby.

There were no injuries reported during the incident. Police said the juvenile was old enough to be left unattended in the vehicle based on the state statute.

Police urged residents to be vigilant of their surroundings. The department said residents, even sitting in a parked vehicle, should always lock their vehicle doors.

During the theft, witnesses reported a black vehicle drive off at the same time as the car that was stolen, according to Fairfield police.

Fairfield police spokesman Lt. Edward Weihe said investigators later identified the accomplice car as a black Dodge Charger stolen in Waterbury around 4:49 p.m. that same day.

Waterbury police said the driver left the car running with her 12-year-old daughter inside when she went to check on her son at a business. When she returned, the car was gone, along with her daughter.

“Shortly thereafter, the 12-year-old child had returned to the area and indicated that she was let out of the vehicle prior to the vehicle exiting the parking lot,” Waterbury police said in a statement.

Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo called the incident “a direct example of the dangers we encounter as a community regarding thefts of stolen motor vehicles; which are predominately crimes committed by juveniles.”

“Please remember to be aware of your surroundings, secure your vehicles at all times and remove any items of value,” he said in a statement.

Fairfield police said the Dodge was later located in Bridgeport “bearing a misused Connecticut registration plate” by members of the Bridgeport Regional AutoTheft Task force.

Two juveniles were arrested and charged with possession of the stolen car in Bridgeport.

“At this time, the two juvenile suspects have not been confirmed to be the occupants of the accomplice vehicle in last night’s incident in Fairfield,” Weihe said Tuesday. “Further Investigation into both the Fairfield and Waterbury incidents will continue until the suspects involved are positively identified.”