The Darien Police Department received reports from five area residents who reported that their vehicles been broken into throughout the day and night of Thursday, Jan. 31.
The first call came shortly after 3 a.m., from a Richmond Drive resident who reported that their family was woken up when their car alarm was activated. When they looked out the window, they saw two men near one of the vehicles in the driveway. When the alarm went off, the two men ran away from the parked Cadillac, which was unlocked in the driveway. The suspects entered a waiting car parked nearby and took off. No items were reported missing.
Later in the morning, three Woods End Road residents reported that their vehicles had been entered overnight while they were parked, unlocked, in the driveway. In each instance, the glove boxes and center consoles were opened and rummaged.
One resident reported a missing car key that was inside one of the vehicles, though nothing else was taken from the two other cases.
The final call came from a Mansfield Place resident at approximately 1:30 p.m. A 2017 Land Rover was entered and was found with the interior compartments alar, though again, nothing was reported missing.
Police say that most criminals will move on if a car is locked because they don't want to make noise breaking a window to get inside. But unlocked cars, especially those with valuables, make it easy for the practice to continue, especially in areas where residents feel they don't need to lock their vehicles.
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