4 Arrested in Darien Crime Spree: Update

DARIEN, CT—Police are in the midst of piecing together a massive crime spree that took place in Noroton Bay early Monday morning. A total of 10 cars were broken into and another four were stolen, police said.

The thieves were apparently specifically looking for keys within the vehicles. The 10 vehicles that were burglarized had been rifled through, but nothing was taken. The four vehicles that were stolen had keys inside.

In all cases the vehicles were unlocked, police said.

A Ford Edge was recovered in the neighborhood. A BMW X5 that was stolen was reported to have been involved in a hit-and-run accident involving a parked car in Hartford. It was later recovered in Hartford parked on a street.

Darien Police have learned from Hartford Police that the street it was recovered on is known to be a dumping ground for stolen vehicles.

A Jeep Cherokee was spotted by Hartford Police Monday and was involved in two pursuits with police. The first pursuit on I-84 was broken off for safety reasons.

The vehicle was spotted a half an hour later and was stopped successfully. Hartford Police arrested four people Monday around 1 p.m., Darien Police said.

A 17-year-old driver from Hartford was charged with first-degree larceny and numerous motor vehicle charges. A 17-year-old passenger from East Hartford faces larceny by possession charges.

Passengers Gerald Jackson, 19, from Hartford and Katarina Harris, 19, of New Britain were charged with interfering with an officer.

"These individuals are known to be part of a group that targets neighborhoods in which residents leave their vehicles unlocked and with the keys in them," said Sgt. Jeremiah Marron Jr., police spokesman. "The vehicles are later sold on the street and used to facilitate narcotic sales and often are involved in police pursuits."