Police Urge Residents To Lock Unattended Vehicles

Police are urging residents to keep their motor vehicles locked when unattended, in view of a recent rash of nighttime thefts of items from unlocked vehicles that were parked in residential driveways.

Police Sergeant Doug Wisentaner said this week that the thefts of items from vehicles during April largely occurred in Sandy Hook. Police received reports about such incidents at Church Hill Road, Walnut Tree Hill Road, Underhill Road, Forest Drive, Great Quarter Road, Loveland Drive, Crabapple Lane, Algonquin Trail, and Alpine Drive, he said.

During April, police received more than 12 reports of thefts of items from unlocked motor vehicles.

In each case, during the nighttime hours, the thief or thieves entered an unlocked vehicle that was parked in a residential driveway and then stole items from inside the vehicle. Miscellaneous items were stolen in the incidents, including compact discs, cellphones, money, and radios, according to the sergeant.

Police received no reports of vehicle vandalism in connection with the thefts.

Sgt Wisentaner said he expects that there have been more incidents of illegal entry into vehicles than have been reported to police.

Items of value should not be left in plain sight within a vehicle, he said. Such items should be kept within a locked trunk, if they are to be kept in an auto, he said.

Sgt Wisentaner said that anyone with information on the thefts should contact police at 426-5841, or at the police tip line at 270-8888.