The hows and whys of recent area motor vehicle thefts

We received reports from Salisbury and Millerton last week of cars being broken into and stolen on the last day of June.

At just about this time of year last summer, a number of cars were stolen in the Tri-state area in what seemed to be a weekend-long sweep. 

We did an interview at that time with law enforcement and published an article about why they think the thefts are happening and how property owners can protect themselves. 

Here in what seems to be a largely rural area, people tend to leave their keys in their vehicles at night. Taking out the keys and locking the doors is an important step in keeping your vehicles safe.

We are reprinting that article from July 23, 2020, with a few small edits. 

Just before the coronavirus pandemic, the state of Connecticut created an auto theft task force to try and figure out why so many cars were being stolen statewide and who was stealing them. 

Since the creation of the force on Feb. 1 [2020], “the task force has recovered 154 stolen cars, eight stolen firearms and a badge from a local police department,” according to a July 16 [2020] press release from the State Police. “Detectives have arrested 22 juveniles, totaling 59 felony arrests for larcenies, illegal possession of weapons, etc. One person was arrested for operating a drug factory; crack and fentanyl were seized. The task force also solved two shootings in Hartford.”

The auto thefts are in no way only an urban problem. Earlier this summer [2020], the police from Troop B  in North Canaan warned Northwest Corner residents to leave their cars locked and empty at night.

The State Police explained how the thefts are being carried out, and why. 

“The task force found that automobiles are stolen in an organized, directed manner,” the news release said. 

“The suspects, many of them juveniles, travel to the suburbs from all major Connecticut cities. They go with anywhere from two to six people, possibly more, in a car. The cars they are traveling in are frequently stolen themselves.”

The gangs travel to suburban and rural areas — not just in Connecticut but also in New York state and Massachusetts — usually early in the morning before sunrise. 

“They check for unlocked cars in driveways and on streets to search for firearms, valuables (laptops, phones, purse and wallet), money and car keys,” according to the news release. 

“Typically, if they encounter a locked vehicle or one without keys inside, they quickly move on to the next automobile.”

The stolen cars are driven back to urban areas and parked and locked. The thieves keep the keys, often in a remote location.

The cars are then “rented” for use in crimes by other gangs. 

“The suspect either keeps the keys or hides them near the parked car,” according to the news release. “The cars are then marketed via social media and smart phone apps to other persons for criminal purposes. An agreement is struck online or in-person, and the location of the car/keys is provided.

“These cars are used for preplanned shootings/assaults, drug trafficking, human trafficking, stealing other vehicles, etc. At this time, the evidence does not support that these crimes are committed for a ‘joyride’ or as a result of ‘bored juveniles.’”

Locking your car, keeping it empty and holding onto the keys might not deter a thief from stealing your vehicle. However, it certainly decreases the likelihood. 

The State Police advised that property owners should “lock all vehicles at all times and remove all valuables (laptops, phones, firearms, cash, etc.) every night. These individuals are committing more crimes — and increasingly more serious crimes — with these stolen cars and the items taken from them, including firearms. 

“Make this your mid-year resolution: remove all valuables, grab the keys and lock the doors so that you are not the next victim in our state.”