MONROE, CT — Detectives are investigating two thefts on Hawthorne Drive, which may have been committed by a crew in a newer model, white BMW SUV that sped away from officers responding to the report of a suspicious vehicle and a male entering vehicles on Coldspring Road late Wednesday night.
Around 11:13 p.m., police responding to the call found a discarded black handbag in the middle of Blake Road along the way, before spotting the SUV heading south on River Drive and turning onto Christianna Drive.
The vehicle passed several officers on Wheeler Road at a high rate of speed, where they lost sight of it, according to police.
The next morning, two Hawthorne Drive residents discovered thefts that occurred overnight, both involving a white SUV.
A resident told police he parked his 2021 Subaru Forester in his driveway and left it unlocked Wednesday night. Then the next morning he learned it had been entered and his wallet, containing $100 cash and a credit card, was stolen.
Camera footage showed a white SUV park in the driveway, a man getting out and committing the theft, according to the report.
Then police received a complaint from a woman on Hawthorne Drive, who said she parked her unlocked BMW in her driveway and a $250 Jackery Power Station was stolen. Ring camera footage showed a white SUV stop at the end of her driveway shortly after she arrived home, before a male got out and entered her vehicle, police said.
Lt. Kevin McKellick said surrounding police departments were notified of the thefts. He credits the Coldspring Road caller with police being able to drive the thieves out of town, before they could commit more crimes.
“If you see suspicious activity, call police right away before taking to social media,” he said. “Do not approach the person yourself.”
Police remind residents to lock their vehicle doors and not to leave keys and other valuables inside.
An $11,300 loss
A Monroe woman told police she was the victim of an $11,300 fraud Wednesday, when her checking account was compromised.
She reportedly told officers a $6,300 check returned to her in the mail had been made out to someone she did not know.
After contacting her bank to discuss the matter, she learned two more checks, each for $2,500, were written against her account — both to people she did not know.
The Monroe Police Detective Bureau is investigating the thefts.
Car vs. tree
A 58-year-old Monroe man escaped injury after swerving off Route 111 and slamming into a tree on Monroe Elementary School’s property, while heading south in his 2010 Volkswagen Jetta just before noon Tuesday.
Police said traffic slowed in front of him and he was unable to stop in time, so he ran off the road to the right and struck the tree head on.
Monroe Volunteer Emergency Medical Service personnel evaluated him at the scene and firefighters also responded to the call, according to police.
The driver was issued a ticket for failure to stay in the proper lane and his damaged vehicle was towed.
The Board of Education was notified about damage to the tree, police said.
CT United Ride’s coming
The 23rd annual CT United Ride, the state’s largest 9/11 tribute featuring hundreds of motorcycles, will roar through town on Sunday, Sept. 8. The route goes from Sherwood Island State Park in Westport to Seaside Park in Bridgeport.
The motorcade normally goes through Monroe, from Newtown, on Route 25 (Main Street), between 12:30 and 1 p.m., but police said it may be a little later this year due to some washouts from the floods.
Police are anticipating it will go through Monroe between 1 and 1:30 p.m. Officers assisted by the Monroe CERT team will be seen along the route with traffic cones set up.
Though Main Street will be open to regular traffic heading north toward Newtown, police said officers will close Route 25 to traffic heading south until the Ride rolls through on its way to Trumbull.
“Once it reaches town, the southbound traffic will be closed until the last riders leave town,” Lt. Kevin McKellick said.
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