By Emma Barhydt
A quiet September morning on the west side of town was shattered by the sound of a car alarm, followed by what neighbors described as a gunshot. By dawn, one resident had been injured, a car was stolen and then recovered in Bridgeport, and police in two cities were working together to untangle the details of a crime that authorities say was alarming, but isolated.
The incident began at approximately 4:55 a.m. on September 23, when the Greenwich Police Department received a call about a motor vehicle theft in progress. Officers responded quickly, but by the time they arrived, the suspects had fled, leaving behind a shaken scene and an injured homeowner.
Police said the victim, a 31-year-old man, had been woken by the sound of a car alarm and ran outside to confront suspects attempting to steal a Honda Pilot from his driveway. The vehicle belonged to his father-in-law. During the confrontation, a loud crack was heard. Investigators later determined the victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries consistent with shrapnel from a discharged firearm, though they emphasized there was no evidence of a direct gunshot wound.
Neighbors also reported hearing what they believed to be a gunshot around the time of the theft. The victim was treated at the hospital and released the same day.
The Honda Pilot was eventually located in Bridgeport. Officers who recovered the vehicle found a spent bullet casing inside, confirming that a firearm had been discharged during the theft. Bridgeport officers detained a suspect connected to the case. However, as of press time, police had not released the suspect’s name or disclosed what charges, if any, were pending. Greenwich detectives traveled to Bridgeport to assist with the recovery and subsequent investigation, a reminder of how closely law enforcement agencies coordinate across city lines. Detectives now face the painstaking task of piecing together the timeline — including when the shot was fired, whether the firearm was aimed deliberately or discharged by accident, and whether the theft was opportunistic or planned in advance.
Greenwich Police Chief Jim Heavey emphasized how the suspects had arrived. “The vehicle that the suspects used to go onto Quarry Knoll to steal another car was a car that had been stolen from Greenwich weeks before,” he explained, noting how often stolen vehicles are reused in subsequent crimes.
“At this time, the incident appears to be an isolated case of vehicle theft,” the department said in a press release later that day, adding that there was no indication of a broader threat to the community. Still, the brazen nature of the crime has unsettled residents. Auto thefts have become a point of concern in towns across Fairfield County in recent years, with incidents sometimes escalating into confrontations. While Greenwich remains statistically safer than many surrounding communities, the theft on September 23 was a reminder that even the most careful households are not immune. Chief Heavey offered a blunt reminder, “It’s another harsh reminder that everyone should lock their cars every place, every time. Whether you’re warming your car up in the morning or you’re stopping for coffee, if you leave the key or the fob in it, you are exposing yourself to the potential theft of your vehicle.”
Greenwich has offered this advice many times before: lock vehicles, remove keys and fobs, and do not confront individuals engaged in a crime.
As of now, many critical details remain unclear. Police have not disclosed the suspect’s identity or whether charges have been filed; however, the Greenwich Police Department has promised additional updates as the investigation develops. For now, they emphasize that there is no ongoing threat and that this theft appears to be an isolated incident rather than part of a larger criminal operation.
Chief Heavey also stressed that residents must resist the impulse to intervene. “I’d also remind the public that they should not try to engage someone who is attempting to steal their vehicle or other property, but should contact 911 immediately,” he said. “And as always, if you see something, say something. No one will ever criticize you for reporting suspicious activity, even if it ends up checking out.”
