Following series of break-ins, trooper urges: Call 911

NORTH CANAAN — Resident State Trooper Jim Promotico has issued a message to residents: Lock your vehicles.

That means anywhere the vehicle will be unattended, and especially at home in the driveway. It is the last place people think to do so, but the first place thieves and vandals choose to strike these days.

There have been a number of recent incidents on Prospect and Bragg streets.

One resident’s cell phone and charger was taken from his car on Oct. 29, while it was parked in his Prospect Street driveway. It was found the next day by the neighbor across the street, in her car.

Promotico said the phone may have planted there as a joke, and that it was kids on “mischief night,� just before Halloween.

However, the charger never turned up, according to the resident. It’s possible that it fell out of the thief’s pocket while he or she rummaged through the neighbor’s car.

There were a number of other vehicles tampered with. None were locked. Promotico said one Prospect Street resident was up late watching a movie and heard something during the early morning hours. It would have been hard not to hear the car alarm that went off, as well. But it seemed no one took any action. One neighbor told The Journal she assumed it was accidental. No one called the police, but Promotico said that is exactly what should have happened.

He understands the reluctance. People don’t immediately think of foul play. They don’t want to bother their neighbors. They think they need to be sure a crime is being committed before calling 911.

“Don’t even try to check it out yourself,� Promotico said. “That’s what the police are for. Call them immediately. Especially now, when there have been incidents, it is warranted to call. People also need to remember that it could be a panic alarm.�

Latest News

Cornwall board approves purchase of two new fire trucks following CVFD recommendation

Cornwall board approves purchase of two new fire trucks following CVFD recommendation
CVFD reaches fundraising goal for new fire trucks
Provided

CORNWALL — At the recommendation of the Cornwall Volunteer Fire Department, on Jan. 20 the Board of Selectmen voted to move forward with the purchase of two new trucks.

Greenwood Emergency Vehicles, located in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, was chosen as the manufacturer. Of the three bids received, Greenwood was the lowest bidder on the desired mini pumper and a rescue pumper.

Keep ReadingShow less
fire department

Robin Lee Roy

Robin Lee Roy

FALLS VILLAGE — Robin Lee Roy, 62, of Zephyrhills, Florida, passed away Jan. 14, 2026.

She was a longtime CNA, serving others with compassion for more than 20 years before retiring from Heartland in Florida.

Keep ReadingShow less

Marjorie A. Vreeland

Marjorie A. Vreeland

SALISBURY — Marjorie A. Vreeland, 98, passed away peacefully at Noble Horizons, on Jan. 10, 2026.She was surrounded by her two loving children, Richard and Nancy.She was born in Bronxville, New York,on Aug. 9, 1927, to Alice (Meyer) and Joseph Casey, both of whom were deceased by the time she was 14. She attended public schools in the area and graduated from Eastchester High School in Tuckahoe and, in 1946 she graduated from The Wood School of Business in New York City.

At 19 years old, she married Everett W. Vreeland of White Plains, New York and for a few years they lived in Ithaca, New York, where Everett was studying to become a veterinarian at Cornell. After a short stint in Coos Bay, Oregon (Mike couldn’t stand the cloudy, rainy weather!) they moved back east to Middletown, Connecticut for three years where Dr. Vreeland worked for Dr. Pieper’s veterinary practice.In Aug. of 1955, Dr. and Mrs. Vreeland moved to North Kent, Connecticut with their children and started Dr. Vreeland’s Veterinary practice. In Sept. of 1968 Marjorie, or “Mike” as she wished to be called, took a “part-time job” at the South Kent School.She retired from South Kent 23 years later on Sept. 1, 1991.Aside from office help and bookkeeping she was secretary to the Headmaster and also taught Public Speaking and Typing.In other times she worked as an assistant to the Town Clerk in Kent, an office worker and receptionist at Ewald Instruments Corp. and as a volunteer at the Kent Library.

Keep ReadingShow less

Rafael A. Porro

Rafael A. Porro

SALISBURY -— Rafael A. Porro, 88, of 4 Undermountain Road, passed away Jan. 6, 2026, at Sharon Hospital. Rafael was born on April 19, 1937 in Camaguey, Cuba the son of Jose Rafael Porro and Clemencia Molina de Porro. He graduated from the Englewood School for Boys in Englewood, New Jersey and attended Columbia University School of General Studies. Rafael retired as a law library clerk from the law firm of Curtis, Mallet Prevost in 2002 and came to live in Salisbury to be nearer to his sister, Chany Wells.

Rafael is survived by his sister, Chany Wells, his nephew Conrad Wells (Gillian), and by numerous cousins in North Carolina, Florida, Wyoming, Arizona, Cuba and Canada. He was the eldest of the cousins and acknowledged family historian. He will be greatly missed.

Keep ReadingShow less