Three Arrested in Westport Vehicle Theft Attempts

Vehicle theft is the story here, but the real point is how organized and mobile these crews can be. Westport police say three suspects were picked up after two SUVs linked to attempted car thefts moved from another town into Westport and ended at Compo Shopping Center. That matters because this was not just someone trying door handles on one street. Police say the group was moving in tandem, crossing town lines, and carrying a device that can help create a new electronic key. ### What happened in Westport? Police say the arrests trace back to April 29, when other agencies reported that two SUVs traveling together were suspected in attempted vehicle thefts. Westport officers later spotted one of the vehicles — a 2025 Mazda CX-30 — on the Sherwood Island Connector, followed it, and detained three people after it parked at Compo Shopping Center on Post Road East. (westportjournal.com) ### Who was arrested? Police named Aniyah Resto, 19, and Dwayne Watson Jr., 20, both of Waterbury, along with a 17-year-old juvenile. All three were charged with conspiracy to commit larceny of a motor vehicle, first offense, which police described as a felony. The juvenile was released to a parent after processing, while Resto and Watson were each released on $7,500 bond and were scheduled to appear in Stamford Superior Court on May 13, 2026. (westportjournal.com) ### Why were police focused on two SUVs? Turns out the two-vehicle setup is one of the more telling details. Police say the pair of SUVs had been reported traveling together and were believed to be involved in attempted thefts before Westport officers made the stop. One of those vehicles — an Infiniti QX50 — had itself been reported stolen from Waterbury without keys, which pushed investigators toward the idea that a key-programming tool may have been used. (westportjournal.com) ### What is a key programmer? Basically, it is a device that can communicate with a car’s electronic system and program a new key or fob. Police said officers saw an “Autel” key programming device in plain view inside the suspects’ vehicle, along with a ski mask. That is the detail that makes this more than a random joyride case — it suggests a method aimed at newer vehicles with electronic access systems. (westportjournal.com) ### Why does New Canaan show up in this case? Because police say the activity did not start in Westport. Investigators said the two SUVs were seen in New Canaan, where two masked people reportedly got out and tried to steal another car. Westport then became the place where one of the vehicles was located and the suspects were detained. So the arrest happened in Westport, but the alleged theft attempt pattern stretched across towns. (westportjournal.com) ### Is this part of a bigger trend? Yes — and that is the backdrop that makes the arrest matter. Westport police warned in January 2026 that vehicle thefts and attempted thefts had been rising, and that suspects were shifting from quiet overnight prowls to more aggressive encounters near driveways, garages, and public lots. Police also said some victims may have been followed from places like grocery stores and gas stations. (westportjournal.com) ### Why are police stressing basic precautions again? Because even with more sophisticated theft tools in play, simple habits still help. Westport police have been urging people to lock cars, remove keys and fobs, lock garages, and stay alert in parking lots and driveways. The catch is that investigators say some crews are getting faster and bolder, so the prevention advice now includes situational awareness — not just remembering to lock up. (patch.com) ### Bottom line This case looks small on the surface — three arrests in a shopping center lot. But it points to a wider problem in Fairfield County: theft crews moving between towns, targeting modern vehicles, and using tools that can defeat the old assumption that a missing key means a car is safe. (westportjournal.com) (patch.com)