Another SUV Stolen in Greenwich

Greenwich Police are investigating the theft of another SUV from the central Greenwich area — a theft that has resulted in an advisory from the director of the Boys & Girls Club Greenwich (BGCG) where the theft occurred on Monday.

An unlocked 2013 Mercedes Benz GL550 SUV with two sets of keys inside, was swiped from the club’s parking lot on Horseneck Lane about 1:30 p.m. April 20. Greenwich Police said, “The private lot had surveillance cameras and the video shows a male suspect wearing a dark hoodie, dark pants, and light colored shoes enter the vehicle and drive away in seconds.”

The scenario is similar to many of the dozen vehicle thefts reported since last November — motorists leave their high-end vehicles unlocked with the keys inside.

BGCG Executive Director Bobby Walker Jr. emailed an advisory to club members Thursday morning, urging them to be more vigilant when parking their vehicles on club property.

“I need to make all of you aware of an unfortunate incident that took place in the BGCG parking lot on Monday, April 20, 2015.

Greenwich (Police) Department’s Lt. Kraig Gray and I have been discussing this incident and the need for everyone associated with the Club (and the Town) to take more vigilant steps to keep themselves and their property as safe as possible. Last month, GPD put out a Public Service Announcement about a trend of stolen vehicles in the central Greenwich business district. According to Lt. Gray, “We (the Greenwich community) are being selected by car thieves who have a proclivity for expensive SUVs. Range Rovers seem to be the first choice, but once they are here it becomes a matter of ease of theft. In the last seven or so cases the cars were unlocked with the keys in them.” So please, be sure to secure your personal belongings, lock your car doors, and NEVER leave your car running while you come inside the Club for any reason.”

Not all of the stolen vehicles have been left unlocked. In late March, a locked Range Rover owned by a man visiting from Stratford was stolen from an East Putnam Avenue parking lot near the Greenwich Library.

Despite the circumstances surrounding that theft, Greenwich Police continue to advise residents to keep their parked vehicles locked at all times, and not to leave the keys or other valuables inside.

Sign up for Greenwich Patch news alerts and more, here.

Other Patch stories:

• Old Greenwich Resident Is Charged Following House Explosion
• Greenwich Distinguished Teacher Award Winners Announced
• First Church Preschool Plants Tree in Old Greenwich for Earth Day