Burglar Who Posed as Solicitor Caught

Darien Police have arrested a Fairfield man they say is responsible for a recent rash of car burglaries in New Canaan and Darien.

On Tuesday, Sept. 15, at approximately 2:30 p.m., police received reports of two separate motor vehicle burglaries on Half Mile Road. In both cases, cash ($20 and $70) was removed from purses left in unlocked vehicles. The victims described the suspect as a white male possibly operating a blue pick up truck—a description similar to eye-witness reports in connection with a string of larcenies and attempted larcenies last Wednesday on the Darien-New Canaan border.

Members of the Darien Police Department’s Detective Division, along with patrol officers responded to the Half Mile Road neighborhood; and a short time later Lt. Donal Anderson, who had responded to the area, observed a blue pick-up traveling northbound on Hollow Tree Ridge towards Talmadge Hill. The driver: a white male with a slight beard and a light colored cap; the car: a blue pickup with a Vermont decal, again matching the description of the suspect in the earlier incidents.

Lt. Anderson pulled the vehicle over on Lapham Road in New Canaan. The driver, Frank Keller, 37, of Fairfield, was handcuffed and searched. Keller had cash in his possession, in the same denominations reported as stolen from the Half Mile Road residents ($20 and $70). He was taken into custody and later admitted to six car burglaries in Darien over the past week and a half.

Keller was charged with six counts of burglary in the third degree, two counts of larceny in the fifth, and three counts of larceny in the sixth. He was later released and is to appear in Stamford Superior Court on Sept. 29. Keller’s ultimate sentence could range from probation and community service to jail time, police say, and is contingent on his criminal record, which police cannot release.

Darien Police have received reports of well over seven car burglaries in the past few weeks, and victims have reported various missing valuables including GPS systems, jewelery, CDs, and silver platters. Marron said there are two other “sets of suspects” involved, other than Keller. Police continue to investigate the overnight car burglaries that took place at Noroton Heights Rail Station in August, and other daytime burglaries.

“The investigation is ongoing, and we have guys out patrolling ‘round the clock,” said Marron. “It doesn’t look good for the Department to have all these car burglaries.”

New Canaan Police conducted an intensive interview with Keller and will be drawing up warrants in three New Canaan larceny and attempted larceny cases in which he is suspected.

Police in both towns urge residents of  to practice all necessary precautions to avoid falling victim to car burglary. Lock your cars, remove your valuables, and park in a well-lit area or driveway when possible, they say.