'We All Need To Do Our Part': Westport Talks Crime After Carjacking

WESTPORT, CT — Before an audience of nearly 100 Wednesday night, members of the Westport Police Department said the issues driving crime in the community are complex, but residents need to help authorities combat it.

Wednesday's community forum was organized by the department and First Selectwoman Jen Tooker after Sunday's violent carjacking, in which a resident was beaten and his Aston Martin convertible was stolen by a pair of assailants as the victim returned home.

One of the attackers, a 16-year-old from Waterbury, has been arrested, and a Berlin man, who was harboring the vehicle, has also been charged. The car, and several other stolen cars, were recovered.

Since the beginning of the year, 50 vehicles have been stolen in Westport, according to Deputy Police Chief Ryan Paulsson. While that's not necessarily an increase over past years, the department is seeing more car thefts occurring during daylight hours, such as in Sunday's incident.

"That's a trend that we're seeing, and it's a bit unnerving," Paulsson said.

Additionally, Westport and other communities are seeing an abundance of juveniles from other parts of the state coming into town to steal vehicles, in part, as Lt. Jillian Cabana said, it's become a game for them.

"This is not just a Westport problem," Police Chief Foti Koskinas told the crowd.

A major component that contributes to these types of crimes is the rather loose nature of the juvenile justice system in Connecticut, which has undergone reforms in recent years, but lacks consequences for many of the repeat offenders, according to Lt. Anthony Prezioso.

"These offenders have learned what we can and cannot do," Prezioso said, such officers not being allowed to pursue thieves in property crimes. If a physical attack occurs, an officer can pursue the criminal, but if property is stolen, they can try to stop the getaway, but they can't engage in a pursuit.

"The easiest advice we can give is to lock your cars, and lock the doors of your home," Prezioso said. "Take garage opener out of car, lock the garage. Take your wallet and valuables out of cars. And leaving key fobs in the car, or near the car, that should never happen."

Koskinas reiterated that advice. "I'm pleading with our community, we all need to do our part."

An overriding theme throughout the discussion was that state legislators were not doing enough to address crime, which led several residents in attendance to essentially issue warnings to politicians in Hartford, do something, or face being voted out.

"We have to find a way to get to the legislators in the state to listen," said resident Bob Kanter.

He, and other speakers, praised the Westport Police Department for the hard work and diligence of its members, and acknowledged that state leaders are not making officers' jobs any easier.

"We must do something with our legislators," said Fairfield resident Arthur Hirsch, a former Police Commission member in that town, who felt compelled to attend Wednesday's forum, because he is nervous about going out at night due to crime.

"The handcuffs are getting tighter and tighter on you, the police, and not on the offenders," Hirsch said.