More than a dozen vehicles have been reported stolen in the area in the last two weeks, in addition to a string of vehicle break-ins.

The incidents have caused police departments across the region to remind residents to lock their vehicles and bring their keys inside their homes, no matter how safe they feel their neighborhood may be.

In New London, Capt. Brian Wright said that seven vehicle break-ins have been reported since the beginning of the month.

On Sunday night, a white 2017 Ford Escape was stolen from Stoneheights Drive in Waterford after it was left with the keys inside it overnight, according to the Waterford Police Department.

This was the fifth vehicle to be stolen in Waterford since the beginning of April, said Waterford Lt. Marc Balestracci. 

In addition to the thefts, several vehicles had also been found to have been rummaged through, with property stolen. No charges had been filed and all of the cases were still being investigated.

"We have significantly increased patrols in residential areas, engaged the residents of Waterford by use of social media and continue to work with our law enforcement partners in the region and state to deal with this issue," said Balestracci.

The uptick in thefts and break-ins, he said, is something the department has seen in the region over the past few years.

"We do not believe there is any relation to the current pandemic," said Balestracci.

Connecticut State Police said they have investigated at least 11 stolen vehicle complaints this past week. State Police Troop E Montville has investigated three thefts since the beginning of April.

About 3:30 a.m. Friday a blue 2015 Dodge Durango was stolen from Lake Road in Griswold. The vehicle was located by the Hartford Police Department two days later, but no charges have yet been filed, according to Troop E.

State police were still looking for the car thieves and released a photo of suspects they believe were involved in the theft. The photo shows two men wearing face masks and dark hooded jackets in the parking lot of a gas station.

In addition to the stolen Durango, several other vehicles were broken into Friday night in the areas of Edmond Street, Leha Avenue and Lake Street in Griswold. Credit cards stolen from the ransacked vehicles were used at a gas station in Hartford and a McDonald's in Fairfield, police said. Anyone with information was asked to contact Trooper Charlton with Troop E at (860) 848-6500.

Like the rest of southeastern Connecticut, Groton Town Police Chief L.J. Fusaro said Groton is seeing an uptick in car thefts and is reminding people to lock their cars and take their keys with them.

Seven vehicles and two motorcycles had been stolen in Groton since April 1. The department said that a few of the vehicles had been recovered, but no charges had been filed in any of the thefts and all investigations were still open. Most of the thefts occurred after vehicles were left unlocked with the keys inside.

In Niantic on Friday, a resident noticed people trying to enter vehicles near South Washington Avenue about 2 a.m. When the person approached them, they took off toward Fairhaven Road in a vehicle with Massachusetts license plates. Several vehicles in the area were found to have been entered and rummaged through, according to East Lyme Police.

Troop E posted a comedic graphic on their Facebook page, walking residents through the steps of how to lock your vehicle.

"Even though we've posted about this before, this message is not latching on," the post said.