Thieves broke into more than a dozen vehicles and stole three others in Haddam, Essex and Chester under the cover of darkness early Tuesday morning.
"CDs scattered, change everywhere. Her glove box was open," Haddam resident Conor said of his family’s vehicle, which was ransacked sometime after midnight Tuesday, according to police. "They took a Bluetooth player and several amounts of change."
Champagne said the suspect rummaged around the SUV and stole electronics and some loose change, nothing of major value. Still, he said it appears the perpetrators were persistent.
He described the culprit as "someone, I guess, who is very desperate for money."
State police troopers interviewed the Champagne family and other victims on Tuesday evening.
Investigators said three cars were stolen and about a dozen others were burglarized between midnight and 6 a.m. Tuesday. The incidents were reported in Essex and Chester, and in the area of High Street in Haddam. Thieves took money, a laptop and an iPad, among other items.
Most of the victims, authorities said, had left their cars unlocked.
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It's a chance Haddam resident Kara Duch is no longer willing to take, saying thieves will now target "not only just your car, your house, everything."
"This is a whole different time than it used to be," she added.
A state police spokesperson said law enforcement is getting closer to making an arrest in connection with a rash of similar crimes committed in June.
At this point, it is unclear if the same suspect or suspects are linked to Tuesday's burglaries.
Authorities are reminding people never to leave valuables in the car and or leave vehicles unlocked when unattended.
Anyone with information about the incidents is urged to call State Police Troop F at 860-399-2100.
