Wellesley has experienced a recent increase in vehicle thefts from driveways. In the past month, more than five cars have been stolen, with three in the past week.
In all of these cases, the cars were taken from residential driveways at night. The cars were unlocked, and the keys were inside.
According to the Wellesley Police Department, the car thefts are occurring between 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. but aren’t reported until the following morning.
In a recent case, WPD Officers encountered two stolen cars driving on Garden Road at 12:40 a.m. The cars had just been stolen from Arnold Road. Neither vehicle had been reported as stolen. Officers were responding to a call for suspicious activity in another neighborhood when they encountered the cars.
Both cars tried to elude WPD. One suspect fled on foot after striking a fire hydrant, and officers discontinued pursuit of the second car for safety reasons as it entered Newton and was driving extremely recklessly.
WPD is urging residents to please lock your car doors and remove your keys from vehicles every night. This type of stolen car crime is entirely preventable. Don’t allow your car to be used in another crime!