Police Warn Residents About Armed Carjacking Spree In Stamford

STAMFORD, CT — The Stamford Police Department is warning residents about a series of armed carjackings that have occurred around the city in recent days, similar to a pattern seen in other municipalities in Fairfield County.

Stamford Assistant Police Chief Richard Conklin said crews of thieves, believed to be young men dressed in all black who are mostly armed, appear to be targeting high-end luxury vehicles during the early morning hours between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m.

"This appears to be a pattern not only in our city but in many towns in lower Fairfield County. It's been ongoing for several days," Conklin noted.

Conklin said some of these stolen vehicles have been used to smash into ATMs to try and dislodge them, or they're being used to ram into smoke shops in the region.

"Some of these vehicles are ending up quite a distance from Stamford in either New York or upstate Connecticut," Conklin said, noting that police are also recovering vacant vehicles from other jurisdictions in Stamford.

On Thursday alone, there were two armed carjackings in Stamford, according to Conklin.

The first occurred at approximately 5:30 a.m. in the 130 block of Tresser Boulevard. Conklin said a man was driving his blue Audi to a nearby gym when he was followed by another car and stopped at gunpoint by a group of men who drove off with his car.

Another carjacking took place roughly 10 minutes later at the Gulf gas station on East Main Street near the entrance to I-95, Conklin said.

A group of thieves pulled up in what police believe was the stolen blue Audi, and several suspects armed with handguns stole a man's Maserati, Conklin said.

On March 26 at 5:10 a.m. at Hospital Plaza, a Lexus was stolen at gunpoint, Conklin added.

The vehicles in these incidents have been recovered and they are being analyzed for additional evidence, police said.

Additionally on March 25 in the 1480 block of High Ridge Road, another Audi was stolen in the same fashion around 6 a.m.

No injuries were reported in any of the incidents, Conklin said.

The SPD is working with other agencies to combat the recent carjacking spree.

"Just recently we've made substantial progress. We're working with several other municipal departments that have experienced these, and, of course, the Connecticut State Police," Conklin said. "We just want our residents and the community to be aware that this is taking place and to be alert, and hopefully we can resolve this very quickly."

The Stamford carjackings occurred amid a busy week along I-95.

Around 4:30 a.m. on March 27, Connecticut State Police responded to an attempted carjacking at the I-95 northbound rest area in Darien.

A man and woman in an Audi struggled with two thieves who were unsuccessful in stealing the car, state police said.

About an hour later, at the I-95 southbound rest area in Milford, a man was able to spray a suspect with gasoline to thwart another carjacking attempt, police said.

Ten minutes after that incident, a woman was confronted by an armed suspect wearing dark clothing at the I-95 northbound rest area in Milford, police said. The suspect stole the woman's Acura RDX.

State police offered the following tips for staying safe at rest areas and any location:

• Never leave your vehicle running and unattended.
• Never leave children unattended in a vehicle.
• Park in well-lit areas.
• Take your keys with you when exiting your vehicle.
• Hide valuables from view before parking and leaving your vehicle.
• Whenever possible, fuel your vehicle during daylight hours.
• Maintain situational awareness and be alert to your surroundings (the people and activities occurring nearby).
• Take your keys, wallet/purse and cell phone with you, even during brief stops.
• Know your vehicle’s make/model, color, and registration plate to assist police (save a photo of your license plate and unique features such as custom accessories, bumper stickers or damage)