UPDATE: Car Stolen, Several Burglarized

One car was stolen and several more were burglarized during the overnight hours of Saturday Nov. 7, Darien Police report.

To date, police have received reports of seventeen car burglaries from Driftway Lane, Raymond Street and Five Mile River Road. In addition, a 2002 Land Rover (keys left inside), was taken from a residence on Driftway Lane. Valuables were left inside most of the vehicles; all were unlocked. The investigation is ongoing.

Since the arrest of Frank Keller (the man charged with over seven burglaries in Darien and New Canaan), Darien Police continue to receive numerous of reports car burglaries. The rash has prompted the Board of Selectmen to consider an opt-in emergency notification system like Nixle—used by Darien Police in this case—so that the Town could communicate with residents over serious matters; that discussion will feature on the Nov. 16 BoS agenda.

Police say it is doubtful that the burglaries are all pinned to a single suspect; instead, they are investigating different “sets of suspects.” Lieutenant Thomas Krois of the Darien Police Department says last night’s incident seems to fit “a different profile” and is unrelated to prior incidents.

“Our investigation so far leads us to believe these suspects are New York based,” said Krois.

During their investigation on Saturday morning, police recovered a stolen car with New York plates and registration. The car, a 1995 Lexus ES30, had been stolen from the Bronx, police say. A resident on Locust Hill Road reported that the empty car—keys left inside—was parked in front of his residence. The NY owner of the car said it had been taken from his driveway between in the early morning hours of Friday, Nov. 6; the car was not damaged and will be returned to the owner, police say.

“The facts look like this: bad guys come in stolen car, rob cars of valuables, ditch the old car and leave in a new stolen car,” said Krois on Saturday, Nov. 7 when the reports first came in.

The car reported stolen from Driftway Lane has yet to be recovered; Officer Kathy Conlin and Officer Greg Benedetto continue the investigation.

Krois describes the large number of recent motor vehicle burglary reports in Darien as somewhat of a criminal trend.

“Stealing car radios was the crime of the 80s,” he said. “Now it’s stealing valuables.”

Of the seventeen cars entered, eleven were burglarized; others were just rifled through. Missing valuables include: credit cards (attempted charges of up to $600), GPS devices, a $2000 camera, iPods and chargers, loose change, a $450 designer purse and a $400 designer wallet.

“Please remove your valuables and lock your cars,” Krois urges Darien residents, “and report any and all suspicious activity to the Darien Police Department.”

Contact Lieutenant Tom Krois of the DPD at 203-662-5305 or tkrois@darienct.gov. In case of an emergency, call 911.

From the DPD’s website, some notes of precaution:

• Always lock your doors
• Always close your windows
• Never leave your vehicle running unattended
• Park in well-lit, visible areas
• Park in your garage when possible
• Always remove your valuables or at least secure them in your trunk