Last night and early this morning, unlocked vehicles in several Westport neighborhoods were burglarized.
Westport Police received reports from both ends of Greens Farms Road, and the Old Mill Beach area. In addition, an unlocked vehicle — with the keys in it — was stolen from the Compo Beach area.
Police expect more reports as the day goes on.
The department says:
Please let these incidents serve as a reminder that vehicle break-ins and vehicle thefts continue to occur in ours and neighboring communities at great frequency; especially in the overnight hours.
In the majority of Westport cases of vehicles being entered which resulted in thefts of goods from within, the doors were left unlocked. In almost all Westport cases of vehicles being stolen, keys were left inside an unlocked vehicle.
The vast majority of these suspects do not wish to take the time to attempt to force entry into a vehicle. This is especially true in the overnight hours, when doing so could create a significant amount of noise that would draw the unwanted attention of otherwise sleeping neighborhoods. When encountering locked vehicles, these suspects almost always simply move on to the next possible target. We therefore strongly implore our residents not to fall victim to these types of crimes.
Preventive measures taken by the community coupled with the vigilance of our officers is the key to safeguarding our neighborhoods. We ask that you please always lock your car and bring your keys inside. Please remember to take valuables out of your car for the night, such as purses, wallets and electronics, and never leave these items out in plain view within. even if the vehicle is locked.
It is also good practice to keep outside lights on and motion lights activated. Lock your residence and arm the security system, if your home is equipped with one.
We also ask that you please notify the police department if it appears that your vehicle was entered or if you should observe anything suspicious in your neighborhood. No one knows your neighborhood better than you do, and the information you provide is always vital to our crime prevention efforts.
Anyone with information about these incidents should call the detective bureau: 203-341-6080.
Got it! Will def work on doors being locked more consistently during the day. Can’t believe people still leave car doors unlocked!!!!
Great PSA Dan…but I can’t agree with your suggestion to keep outside lights on. All night?? Imagine what Westport would look like if it were lit up from dusk to dawn with tens of thousands of driveway, front door, landscaping and garage lamps. Not to mention the electricity waste.
Maybe consider motion lights
Thanks for the feedback, Charles, but it’s not my suggestion. As noted in the story, this one comes directly from the Police Department.
Locking ones doors is a big help An LED light also helps and is more economical
Motion detector lights are the best and energy efficient.
Led Floodlights have come a long way , and very easy on your electric bill . I have 3 dusk to dawn floodlights , that cover my driveway and back door area .. (3) Led floodlights only draw 66 watts of power … My cars are always locked , many cameras , alarm , and a Big Ass Dog …
How do you know that helps? Maybe someone will come just for the floodlights. Or the Big Ass Dog!
People give up a lot in their fears. The night is beautiful. And most crime happens in the daytime.
Police shouldn’t even be investigating these. If you’re too lazy to lock your car or take the keys out you deserve to have it stolen. The fact they have to risk their lives chasing these kids down over and over is getting ridiculous, especially since this state refuses to hold people accountable in prison and immediately release them. This has been going on for years now. You have thieves traveling all the way from Waterbury and new haven down here because they know it’s an easy target.
If you leave your keys in your car and it’s stolen, I hope your insurance company tells you you’re SOL. Half of these could be insurance fraud, WPD is wasting their time.
I’m not sure many of these are insurance fraud, but anyone who is dumb enough to leave a car unlocked with the keys insise, deserves whatever happens. This is a common sense issue.
While they may deserve whatever happens, unfortunately the cost gets socialized to everyone else in the area by making it an attractive target for thieves as well as via higher insurance rates assuming they make claims.
Unlocked cars? Keys left inside? Ha Ha. These people are just ASKING for trouble. I lock my car even if I can see it from inside the store! (But then, again, I’m originally a New Yorker).
Stupid to leave anything unlocked whether its a car, house, etc. Motion lights bare minimum. Security cameras wise. Alarm system too. Do not post who your provider is on a sticker or lawn stake. I am curious how insurance is handling claims of cars stolen where keys are left in the car?