Thieves Steal 1 Vehicle, Break Into 40 New Canaan Mailboxes: PD

NEW CANAAN, CT — Forty residential mailboxes were broken into in New Canaan over the weekend, and 2016 Land Rover was reported stolen, according to Police Chief Leon Krolikowski.

The break-ins occurred in mailboxes on White Oak Shade Road (14 boxes entered), Main Street (25 boxes entered) and Nursery Road (one box entered). Krolikowski said that mail and a package was reported stolen from the Nursery Road home, but it does not appear that any mail was taken from the other homes.

"We urge all residents to bring sensitive mail (especially mail that contains checks) to the post office rather than leave in an unsecure residential mailbox," Krolikowski said. "The theft of mail often leads to financial crimes and identity theft."

In September, two suspects were arrested in New Canaan after a traffic stop when police found several pieces of mail that did not belong to them in their vehicle. Earlier in the same month, police launched an investigation into "check washing" incidents in town connected to mail theft.

Krolikowski said the Land Rover was reported stolen at 6 p.m. on Friday from the driveway of a home on Valley Road. The vehicle had been left unlocked and with the keys inside, he said.

The vehicle was recovered over the weekend in Stratford, but in addition to that vehicle, several others reportedly were broken into on Ferris Hill, Putnam and White Oak Shade roads, and Lincoln Drive. It appears that nothing was taken from those vehicles, Krolikowski said.

"Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, criminal gangs are active throughout Fairfield County," the chief said. "In the past, some of the vehicles stolen in Fairfield County were used in violent crimes. We urge our residents to be more cautious and practice good crime prevention strategies. This carelessness is putting our entire Town at risk."