Car Parked In New Canaan Stolen With Bulldog Inside: Police

NEW CANAAN, CT — A Range Rover parked in downtown New Canaan with a French Bulldog inside was stolen late Sunday morning, according to police.

In a news release, Police Lt. Marc DeFelice said the owner parked their Range Rover in the area of 80 Main Street around 11:30 a.m.

The unoccupied Range Rover was left running with the keys inside, and a brown French Bulldog named Poppy was inside the vehicle at the time of the theft, according to DeFelice.

Officers arrived in the area and tried to stop the stolen vehicle, which left town at a high rate of speed and entered the Merritt Parkway northbound at Exit 38, DeFelice said.

Officers stopped following the vehicle at this time "in accordance with state law," DeFelice said.

Police, in conjunction with area departments, are actively investigating this incident and are following up on all leads, according to DeFelice.

Anyone with information about this incident or the location of the stolen vehicle or Poppy is asked to contact the New Canaan Police Investigations Section at 203-594-3521.

DeFelice also noted the department has seen an uptick in reports of vehicles stolen at daytime in New Canaan.

"We want to remind everyone that while vehicles continue to be broken into and stolen overnight, these incidents can occur at any time of day," DeFelice said in a news release. "The vast majority of these incidents occur when the vehicle is unlocked with the key fob inside."

DeFelice urged New Canaan residents to lock their car doors and not to leave their keys or key fob inside their vehicle.

"In case of a stolen vehicle, do not engage with anyone, call 911 as soon as possible with information," DeFelice said. "We want to keep our residents safe and make everyone aware of criminal activity that occurs in our town."