Unlocked and Unlucky: Burglars Stick It To Darienites

Police say two nights is all it took for burglars to enter more than a half dozen cars in Darien, and leave with nearly $2,500 in valuables. The incidents took place during the overnight hours of Sunday and Wednesday last week, and police believe each string to be related.

"Lock your vehicles all the time, everywhere," said Capt. Fred Komm of the Darien Police Department.

Monday, April 26

MOTOR VEHICLE BURGLARY: Police received report from a female resident of Fitch Avenue who claimed her Garmin nüvi GPS system—valued at $300—had been stolen from her unlocked 2006 Chevrolet TrailBlazer during the Sunday overnight hours. The complainant told police she had parked her car in the driveway on Sunday, April 25 at noon. When she returned to the car on Monday morning at 8 a.m., she noticed her GPS missing from inside the center consul and papers strewn about the glove box.

MOTOR VEHICLE BURGLARY: A second Fitch Avenue resident filed a car burglary report with police just after 7:30 a.m., when he noticed the front door of his 2008 Ford Edge had been left ajar and the glove box opened. The complainant told police that he had left the car unlocked and parked in the driveway at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday. Police said nothing of value was left in the car; nothing was taken.

Wednesday, April 28

MOTOR VEHICLE BURGLARY: In an incident that police believe to be related to the Fitch Avenue burglaries, a Relihan Road resident reported a Magellan Maestro GPS—valued at $250—stolen from his 2009 Volvo. The complainant told police that the navigation system was last observed on the dashboard at 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 25. He noticed it missing the following morning at 11 a.m., police said.

Thursday, April 29

MOTOR VEHICLE BURGLARY: An Old Kings Highway South resident called police at 4:30 p.m. after discovering the driver's door and center consul of his 2000 Ford Explorer had been opened. The car was left unlocked and parked in the driveway on Wednesday at noon. Nothing was taken, police say.

MOTOR VEHICLE BURGLARY: A Clock Avenue resident filed a motor vehicle burglary report at 7 p.m., when his son discovered the door and glove box of the family's 2001 Chrysler Town & Country had been opened within the 23 hours it had been left parked and unlocked in the driveway. Nothing was taken, police say.

MOTOR VEHICLE BURGLARY: A Long Neck Point Road resident's 2007 Lexus ES 350 was entered during the Wednesday overnight hours, police say. The complainant called police at about 8:40 a.m. after noticing the drier's side door slightly open and the center consul and glove box rifled through. The car had been left unlocked in the driveway at 9:30 p.m. on April 28, and police say nothing was taken.

MOTOR VEHICLE BURGLARY: At 7 a.m., a Garden City Road resident reported a total of $1,899 in valuables had been stolen during the Wednesday overnight. According to police, the resident had left her 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe unlocked and parked in the driveway at 9 p.m. on April 28.

In the car was a pair of $199 Burberry sunglasses, a $150 Bluetooth earpiece, a $600 Tory Birch purse, a $350 black leather designer wallet containing $95 cash, various credit cars and gift cards, a daughter's iPod Touch and a pink wallet containing $120 cash—a gift for her confirmation. Police said all items were reported stolen.

According to police, the resident's Mastercard had been used to make a $530 purchase at Best Buy and to purchase two MTA tickets—one $40 and one $20—at 4:29 a.m.

An employee of the Department of Public Works later recovered the empty Tory Birch purse and both empty wallets on Goodwives River Road in the area of Old Kings Highway South.