Police: Stop Thieves From Ruining Holidays, Lock Car Doors

MYSTIC, CT — We'll say Stonington, but no town is immune.

My car, in a well-lit driveway set far from back the street, was ransacked. The only thing taken was a collection of condiments (explainer: been saving for years since I saw a particularly grisly but hysterical Sopranos episode called 'Pine Barrens.') Anyway, yes, a bag filled with ketchup packets and little honey mustard sauce containers and the like. It could have been far worse of course, but I don't often leave valuables in my car. What I do though, or did, I no longer do this, was leave my car unlocked. I might as well have put a neon sign reading, 'Open, come on in' on the dash.

Police from Branford to Waterford have been reminding people for months to lock their cars. it took having my car broken into (well, not really broken; the person just opened the door) to learn my lesson.

Now especially, when it gets darker earlier and with the holidays upon us, sadly, there are more apparent desperate, and bold, people set on stealing. Stuff and joy.

In posts from North Stonington to East Haven, folks are sharing stories like this: "Just a heads up to everyone: lock your cars at night! We noticed on our camera at around 12:05 a.m. a man walk up our driveway and go into my husband’s car. He was in there a few seconds and left. We have flood lights that went off and it didn’t phase him."

The person was told by state police that "gangs" come from other communities to “hit up cars that are left unlocked."

State and local police regularly post on Facebook urging folks to lock their cars.

This post from Branford police, albeit a couple of years old, includes great tips beyond the obvious, including use your garage (if you have one), never leave the keys inside, park in well-lit areas, keep your motion sensor lights and security cameras armed if you have them, never leave your car running unattended, not even for “just a minute,”maybe install an anti-theft alarm system, and "be alert, proactive and keep your guard up- if you see something suspicious" call police.

And this piece of advice, especially this time of year when folks begin holidays shopping, is particularly important: keep items of value concealed.