Motor vehicle thefts in Weston are not as frequent as they were last summer, but the problem still exists. So, the Weston Police still advise taking precautions, especially the most basic one: locking your car and taking the keys with you wherever you go.

Incidents reported in the last few weeks include three thefts, one thwarted attempt, and one that turned out to be a case of mistaken identity.

Thefts and an attempt

During the night of June 8, a 2019 BMW SUV was stolen from a driveway on Oak Lane. The vehicle had been left unlocked with the keys inside.

Sometime on that same evening — we cannot say for certain the incidents are connected — someone tried to enter four cars parked in a driveway on nearby Singing Oaks Drive. Apparently, doors were locked on all but one. No keys were left in any of them, nor were valuables. Nothing was taken.

The homeowner provided security footage to Weston Police, who report that it showed a person dressed in a hooded sweatshirt and sweatpants walking up to cars and attempting to open them.

On June 14, a Treadwell Lane resident reported the theft of a 2000 BMW sedan, last seen earlier that morning in the driveway, unlocked with the keys inside.

On the morning of July 3, a resident in the kitchen of a Steephill Road home heard a car pulling out of the driveway — the resident’s own 2017 BMW. Keys had been left inside.

The resident told police that another sedan had been parked at the same time on the street in front of the house with four occupants inside, their faces covered.

Oops

On July 5, a Wilton resident parked his black Jeep Grand Cherokee in front of Lily’s Weston Market, left the keys inside, and went in to shop. Coming out of the store, the first thing he noticed was that his Jeep was gone.

The second thing he noticed was another black Grand Cherokee in the space right next to where he had parked.

You can probably see where this is going.

It turns out that the other Jeep had been rented in New York City by a woman who had driven to Weston to visit her sister. She made a run to Lily’s, came out, and got into the nearly identical but wrong Jeep. With a press of the button on the fob that had been left inside, it started easily and off she went.

Weston Police were able to find the house where the accidentally stolen vehicle was parked, knocked on the door, and sorted everything out with the “extremely embarrassed” visitor. The officers brought the Wilton man to the house to retrieve his Jeep. The visitor’s sister drove her to Lily’s to pick up the rental.

Advice from the Weston Police

• Always lock your vehicle, no matter how briefly you will be away from it.
• Take valuables inside.
• Don’t leave spare keys in the vehicle or easily accessible places.
• Park in a well-lit location.
• Consider using steering wheel locks or other anti-theft devices.
• If your vehicle is equipped with an immobilizer or anti-theft device, make sure it is activated.
• Consider installing a car alarm.

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