Public Forum On Car Jacking & Thefts Tonight At Town Hall
In collaboration with First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker, the Westport Police Department will host a Public Forum on Public Safety as it relates to car thefts, vehicle break-ins and the recent carjacking incident. The event will take place on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, at 7:00 PM in the Westport Town Hall Auditorium, 110 Myrtle Avenue.
Police Chief Foti Koskinas will lead a discussion focusing on the safety concerns voiced by members of our community. Chief Koskinas and members of the command staff will present the ongoing work of the Regional Auto Theft Task Force that was formed due to the increased car thefts and vehicle break-ins in the area.
The event will be live streamed on the Westport Town Website:
Interested residents may also view a Westport What's Happening Podcast of an interview with First Selectwoman Jen Tooker and Chief Of Police Foti Koskinas on the topic.In this very important episode Chief Koskinas and First Selectwoman Tooker discuss the recent carjacking incident and auto thefts in Westport and how to prevent them.
Most important says Chief Koskinas is: LOCK YOUR CAR
BUSTED! Westport Police Make Arrest In Sunday Carjacking
On Tuesday members of Westport PD's Detective Bureau arrested a 16 year old juvenile in connection with the carjacking that occurred on Sunday September 16th. Westport Detectives, as part of the Bridgeport Auto Theft Task Force on Monday executed a search warrant of a residence in Berlin, CT.
Based on information obtained by the Westport Detective Bureau, a warrant to search a residence in Berlin, CT was secured. On September 18, 2023, the warrant was executed by members of the Bridgeport Auto Theft Task Force, of which Westport is a member, along with members of Berlin Police Department. During this search four stolen motor vehicles were recovered, one of which was the Aston Martin taken during the carjacking (above, center).
A 2021 BMW 530i that was stolen from Westport on September 16 and used in the carjacking was also located during the search (above, right). Finally, a BMW stolen from Ridgefield (above, right) and a Porsche stolen from Rhode Island (below, right) were also recovered. Twenty-nine-year-old Derek McGill, (above, left) who lives at the home where the stolen cars were found, was placed under arrest by the Bridgeport Auto Theft Task Force but does not currently have charges pending in Westport. He is being held on a $250,000 bond and has been charged with the following crimes: Larceny of Motor Vehicle 1st Degree (4 Counts), Conspiracy to Commit Larceny of Motor Vehicle 1st (1 Count), Payment Card Theft (1 Count). Illegal Operation of a Chop Shop (1 Count), Conspiracy to Commit Illegal Operation of a Chop Shop (1 Count
A second search warrant was also executed today.
According to Westport PD Lt. Eric Woods:
On September 19, 2023, Westport Police Detectives, the Connecticut State Police Violent Crime Task Force, and members of the Waterbury Police Department executed a second search warrant on a residence in Waterbury, CT. A handgun with an extended magazine was seized. A sixteen-year-old juvenile who resides in the home was arrested by Westport police after evidence linking him to the carjacking was uncovered. He was charged with the following crimes: Strangulation 1st Degree, Robbery by Carjacking, Burglary 1st Degree, Criminal Attempt to Commit Larceny of Motor Vehicle 1st Degree, Assault 3rd Degree. After conversation with juvenile prosecutors, an additional charge of home invasion has been filed against the 16 year old juvenile.
Contributed photos supplied by Westport Police.
Home Invasion/Car Jacking On Bayberry Lane On Sunday Under Investigation By Westport Police
The assault and car jacking was captured by homeowner’s video camera.
A Bayberry Lane homeowner got the shock of his life after pulling his Aston Martin into his garage when two individuals entered his garage and began the terrifying assault which was captured on the homeowners video camera. Video of the event was released to the media by Westport Police.
Westport PD Press Release On Sunday 9.17.23:
On Sunday, September 17, 2023 at approximately 3:50 PM Westport Police responded to a residential burglary and carjacking on Bayberry Lane. The complainant reported that as they returned home and pulled into their garage, two (2) suspects entered the garage. The suspects assaulted the complainant while they were seated in the vehicle and subsequently stole their blue Aston Martin after forcibly removing the victim. It is believed that the suspects arrived at the residence in a dark blue BMW, as this vehicle was seen fleeing with the stolen vehicle. The complaint suffered minor injuries as a result of the assault but declined medical attention. Broadcast messages were sent to neighboring towns and Connecticut State Police. Both of these vehicles were reported to be last seen traveling north on Route 8. The Westport Police Detective Bureau is currently investigating and anyone with information is asked to contact us at (203)341-6080.
It is believed that our victim was targeted and followed back to their residence. Therefore, Westport Police are encouraging residents to be aware of their surroundings and report any suspicious behavior to 911.
WPD Update on Monday 9.18.23:
There have been no significant developments in the investigation as of this writing. The Aston Martin has not been recovered and there have been no arrests. The dark blue BMW that was involved was later reported stolen from Norwalk..
Westport police to host public forum on this and Car theft issuesI.
n an additional Press Release on Monday by Westport PD, the department announced it will be hosting a forum on public safety do to the seriousness of this incident and the number of vehicle thefts in town over the last 18 months or even earlier.
WPD Press Release:
In collaboration with First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker, the Westport Police Department will host a Public Forum on Public Safety as it relates to car thefts, vehicle break-ins and the recent carjacking incident. The event will take place on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, at 7:00 PM in the Westport Town Hall Auditorium, 110 Myrtle Avenue.
Police Chief Foti Koskinas will lead a discussion focusing on the safety concerns voiced by members of our community. Chief Koskinas and members of the command staff will present the ongoing work of the Regional Auto Theft Task Force that was formed due to the increased car thefts and vehicle break-ins in the area. Special attention will be given to police practices that are utilized to combat the theft of vehicles. The forum will provide information and instructions to increase situational awareness and help our community avoid being victims of these crimes.
We hope to see everyone Wednesday at this important and informative meeting.
Not The Electric Slide, This Will Be The Lateral Slide
The bridge replacement on I-95 over Saugatuck Avenue is proceeding along on time.
The much needed bridge replacement on I-95 over Saugatuck Avenue is being done using the highly efficient technique of Slide-in bridge construction (SIBC), more commonly known as "lateral slide". This is one of several Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) technologies being promoted by the FHWA Every Day Counts program. For those who don’t remember, the Electric Slide was all the rage a few years back. This slide offers a more substantial benefit.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Information on this project is available at www.i95norwalkwestport.com. https://www.i95norwalkwestport.com/
Ironworkers from union local 424 and local 15 work in the blazing sun recently with temperatures in the mid 90ºs and feel-like temps over 100. It wasn't easy for Larry, Bernie, Shai, Willie and John on a day like this, but they did their jobs as they do whatever the weather might be.
Connecticut has received many millions of dollars for infrastructure improvements:
CT has been the recipient of major federal funding for this and other major infrastructure projects. WesportLocalPress spoke with Josh Morgan, CT DOT spokesperson who told us, "Billions of dollars in Federal funds for Connecticut are going towards improving our infrastructure, helping grow the economy, connecting communities, and creating safe and accessible passageways for more people. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform our state and make it safer and more accessible for everyone. As a result of this funding, we are doing more projects than ever before and accelerating existing projects so they can be completed sooner. These investments would not be possible without the support of Connecticut’s Congressional Delegation, who championed this bill, and Governor Lamont and the state legislature, who have provided us with the matching state funds to leverage new federal grant opportunities. The Federal infrastructure law is making a difference in Connecticut."
To see what slide-in bridge construction looks like you can go to a similar bridge replacement project ins Southington from several years ago: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAAMx0W-7S8
As you will see quite often on union construction jobs, workers insure the Amercian flag takes a prominent position on the jobsite.
The bridge replacement is on schedule to be completed next month over the course of two weekends. This will result in weekend lane closures on both the northbound and southbound sides of I-95. While the roadway will remain open, CT DOT is advising motorists to avoid the area during the weekend work. Details about the date and time of lane closures and alternate routes will be published in advance of the work beginning.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
There are several informative websites to learn about how CT is improving the roads and bridges we drive on day and night.
Morgan further provided additional information and links to see just what is being accomplished to improve the entire state of Connecticut's infrastructure, which has significantly increased use by more and heavier vehicles in recent years.
Morgan's DOT Info:
Here is a link to our end of year Infrastructure Law press release that highlights projects and provides a lot of numbers:https://portal.ct.gov/DOT/CTDOT-Press-Releases/2022/CTDOT-Highlights-Investments-in-First-Year-of-Infrastructure-Law/. Please note, Commissioner Giulietti has since retired and our current Commissioner is Garrett Eucalitto. Also please note, that release came out two weeks before we were alerted that we received a $158 million Federal grant, which was part of a new program created by the Infrastructure Law:https://portal.ct.gov/DOT/CTDOT-Press-Releases/2022/Federal-Infrastructure-Grant-for-Gold-Star-Memorial-Bridge-Rehabilitation.
Here is link to a map we have that shows projects and funding type, including the Infrastructure Law:https://ctdot.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/52e9ba95ad914e34b149966420e9db08.
On that map, there are multiple projects happening in the same area, so if you click on part of 95 for the Norwalk/Westport job, you may have to click through some arrows to get it. And here is a map that shows all active projects in the state: https://connecticut-ctdot.opendata.arcgis.com/apps/497d9f93de1247378faceff72434b8a6/explore. Same note as before with the arrows to move around projects that overlap.