From Unlocked Vehicles—

Police Arrest Two Youths

In String of Thefts

By Andrew Gorosko

Police reported this week that they have made two arrests, one this week and one last month, of people allegedly involved in the local string of thefts of items from unlocked motor vehicles that began last February.

Police said that on November 17 they arrested on a warrant a 16-year-old boy, charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit sixth-degree larceny and with one count of tampering with evidence. The youth is scheduled for an upcoming appearance in Danbury Youthful Offender Court.

Police also revealed that a sixth-degree larceny arrest that they made on October 17 against another youth was related to the string of thefts from vehicles.

Both of the youths arrested are considered “youthful offenders,” and thus their identities are shielded by state law. Youthful offenders are either 16 or 17 years old. The court dispositions of their criminal cases are concealed under the provisions of state law.

Police Detective Sergeant John Cole said November 20 that the police’s investigation into the rash of thefts is continuing and more arrests are expected. The sergeant noted that there have been no such thefts reported to police recently.

In August, the town broadened the use of its Code Red emergency notification network, employing the automated telephone calling system to disseminate information on crime prevention in light of the rash of thefts from vehicles.

In that recorded telephone message issued on August 14, Police Chief Michael Kehoe stated that during the past several months, there had been a noted increase of thefts of items from vehicles, generally occurring overnight from unlocked vehicles parked in residential driveways. Most of the thefts occurred in Sandy Hook.

Items taken included small valuables such as global positioning system (GPS) automotive navigation units, digital media players, and satellite radio units.

In that message, the police chief urged residents to keep their vehicles locked when unattended and to report any suspicious activity to local police. The police chief said there had been so many cases of theft from vehicles that it became necessary to use the notification system to issue a broad crime prevention warning.

Sgt Cole stressed that the police investigation into the string of thefts is continuing.