West Hartford Police Following Leads After Rash of Car Burglaries

A rash of car burglaries in the past month has West Hartford Police on alert, and once again urging residents to lock their cars.

Capt. Donald Melanson of the West Hartford Police said that there were almost 40 car burglaries in May – a number that is at least two or three times higher than what is seen in a typical month. The incidents are spread throughout town, not targeting any one specific neighborhood.

"A lot [of the cars] have had windows smashed, but even more occurred where there were unlocked doors," he said. Most of the thefts occurred in the evening hours, after 5 p.m., or overnight, said Melanson.

Typical items taken include GPS systems, cellphones, loose change, and anything of value left in the open, Melanson said. Some items including purses and wallets have been found discarded, he said, and the owners have been identified whenever possible.

Although no arrests have yet been made, police are following leads, said Melanson. Since the incidents are spread throughout town, and descriptions of the suspects have been varied, they can't determine at this time whether the incidents are related. Several of the reports have involved suspects on bicycle peering into car windows, he said.

West Hartford Police urge residents to pay attention to suspicious activity, and if you see someone lurking around suspiciously you should call 911, Melanson said. Residents should also be sure to lock their vehicles.