Two Car-Burglary Sprees in Noroton Last Week [UPDATE]

Update, 11:19 a.m.:

Darien police are asking the public to contact the department if their cars were entered in the recent burglary sprees. Here's what the department posted on its Facebook page:

"The Darien Police Department is reaching out to a handful of neighborhoods that have recently been targeted by car burglars. 

"There are two primary purposes for this notification.  First, the police department is trying to contact residents who have been victimized, but have not yet filed a police report.  If your car has recently been broken into, please contact the Patrol Division at 203-662-5300 and make a report, even if nothing was taken. 

"Your report will help the police department recognize and predict patterns of criminal behavior that could lead to the capture of these individuals.  Secondly, the police department is asking for your help! 

"It is not uncommon for residents to see or hear something unusual during the night, only to wake up and find that they have been victimized.  Please call the police department immediately if you see or hear anything suspicious, especially after dark. 

"You can reach an officer directly by calling 203-662-5300 or, if an emergency, dial 911. 

"The police department has no reason to believe that the criminals targeting cars in Darien have any intent to commit violence.  Still, I urge that residents use common sense in securing their homes and vehicles. 

"Almost all of our reported car burglaries have involved unlocked vehicles.  Remember,  Lock your car. Every time. Everywhere.  Thank you."

Update, 10:50 a.m., Wednesday:

On the same weekend, items were stolen overnight from a slew of unlocked Fairfield cars.

Original article, Monday:

Unlocked cars parked in the driveways of homes on the Post Road, Hollow Tree Ridge Road and surrounding streets were entered and money and valuables were taken overnight Monday to Tuesday last week, then again overnight Saturday to Sunday.

In the first set of burglaries, only cash was taken; in the second set, other items of some value were taken as well, but three GPS devices that had been stolen were later found on Miles Road, where more burglaries took place than any other street.

Police gave these details of the thefts (each bullet point below represents a report from a separate residence):

Overnight Monday to Tuesday

• Devonshire Drive: Two unlocked vehicles parked at a home were entered (a third, locked, vehicle was not entered). A cell-phone charger was stolen from a 2004 Chevrolet Express van; the glove compartment of a 1999 Mercedes E Class was rifled through, but nothing was taken.

• Glenwood Drive: The owner of a 2009 Jeep Cherokee was "99 percent sure" the car was locked, but couldn't say for sure. There were no signs of forced entry. An iPhone charger and an EZ Pass were taken, along with $5 to $10 in cash.

• Concorde Lane: A Jeep Wrangler was entered and items were disturbed in the glove box, but nothing was missing; a 2006 Subaru Impreza was also entered. Earrings and a debit card were left behind, but $40 in cash was missing.

Overnight Saturday to Sunday

Thirteen vehicles parked by nine homes in town were entered -- again, all of them were unlocked.

• Miles Road: 2002 Nissan Pathfinder: nothing taken.

• Miles Road: 1991 Jeep Wagoneer: A golf hat was taken. From a 2008 Jaguar, a cell phone and $100 in cash was taken.

(While police were investigating this complaint, a resident found three Garmin brand GPS devices near the home. Each had been stolen that night from another home elsewhere in town.

(Police say that when stolen items worth less than $1,000 are found, they don't need to be held by police and presented in court -- only photographs need to be taken, so two were returned to their owners and a third was kept in order to see if fingerprints could be found on it.)

• Miles Road: A 2003 Acura MDX was rifled through. Taken were an unknown amount of change and a Garmin GPS valued at $100 (and later found on Miles Road).

• Miles Road: A 2006 Ford Explorer and 2011 Chevrolet Suburban were each entered. An unknown amount of loose change was taken.

• Hollow Tree Ridge Road: A 1996 Jeep Cherokee was entered, but nothing was taken; likewise for a 2004 Kia Spectra at the same residence.

• Devonshire Drive: From a 2011 Mercedes c300, a phone charger valued at $20 was taken, and from a 2008 Infinity FX35, a Garmin GPS device valued at $120 was taken (and later found on Miles Road).

• Devonshire Drive: From a 2012 Volswagen Tuareg: an iPod Nano and a lighter cord adapter were taken. A watch may have been taken, as well.

• Glenwood Drive: From a 2003 BMW 325, a Garmin GPS was taken (and later found on Miles Road).