Greenwich Police Department Chief of Police James Heavey has an urgent message for residents regarding auto thefts in Greenwich.
"We need your help!" Heavey says.
Chief Heavey urges residents to lock and alarm their vehicle, not leave the keys, key fob, or valet key in an unattended vehicle, and to report all suspicious persons or vehicles to 9-1-1.
"Since my last message, we had three more cars stolen, all with the doors unlocked and the keys within. Just last night our officer's gave chase to a stolen car from Waterbury. The reckless youths bailed out of the moving car and fled into the night on foot, leaving the car still running and rolling off the road," Heavey reports.
According to Heavey, the youths are operating as a vehicle theft gang and are committing crimes throughout Fairfield County, Westchester, and Duchess Counties in New York.
Heavey says that the youths close out their night by stealing the cars before heading home. "They have become very discerning with which cars they will steal, taking only the finest and fastest. Often, these criminals use stolen vehicles to commit more crimes, which endanger the public and law enforcement," says Heavey.
ALWAYS REMEMBER, “LOCK IT OR LOSE IT.”