Darien PD: 3 unlocked cars with keys inside stolen

DARIEN — Three cars were stolen from local homes late last week, police said Tuesday.

All three cars were left unlocked with the keys inside, according to Darien Police Sgt. James Palmieri. Officers were able to recover two of the three stolen cars.

The first car theft occurred sometime Thursday night on Raider Lane. Around 8:30 a.m. Friday, a woman reported her 2021 Mercedes GLC300 stolen from her home. She had left her car unlocked with the keys inside, Palmieri said.

On Sunday, the New York State Police notified Darien police that the stolen car was involved in a pursuit with their agency in Putnam County. Officers eventually stopped the car using spike strips. Two suspects from Connecticut were taken into custody, Palmieri said.

Another car, a 2015 Lexus LS460, was stolen Thursday night from Long Neck Point Road. The person who reported it stolen Friday morning said the car was unlocked with the keys inside. Later Friday, the car was found abandoned in Waterbury, Palmieri said.

A 2018 Range Rover Velar was stolen from Meadowbrook Road sometime Saturday night. The man who reported the car stolen said it had been left unlocked with the keys inside, Palmieri said.

The man was able to remotely track his car to Newark, N.J. However, officers in Newark were unable to find the car, Palmieri said.

Palmieri said the police department has been dealing with stolen vehicles for years.

“The challenge for us has been that Darien has come to be known as a ‘target rich’ environment when it comes to cars being left unlocked overnight,” he said. Additionally, people often leave their keys in their cars, he said.

Palmieri said 95 percent of car burglaries and stolen vehicle cases involve “no forced entry,” and many Connecticut communities are experiencing similar crimes.