A String of Luxury Car Thefts Hits the Hamptons

Luxury cars are a dime a dozen in the Hamptons, but there are some car thieves who seem to realize exactly what they're worth.

Police agencies from Westhampton to East Hampton are investigating a string of car thefts — nine so far — that involve high-end vehicles, mostly foreign cars that went missing after they were left unlocked and with keys inside.

In Southampton Village, police said this week said that a black 2013 Mercedes Benz CL55 was taken from a driveway on Pheasant Close East on July 20.

The same day, a 2003 Cadillac CTS that had been reported stolen was involved in an early morning accident just east of 7-Eleven in Southampton. Two men were reported running from the scene before police arrived.

Police are asking anyone with information about either of the incidents to call 631-283-0056.

In East Hampton, detectives are investigating two cases.

A 2012 Range Rover was stolen on June 29 and a 2013 Mercedes Benz GL4 was stolen on July 18, Detective Lt. Chris Anderson said.

"Both were taken in the overnight. And both vehicles were left unlocked and the keys in the vehicle," he said.

"We're working together with several other agencies," he said, though he said it was too early to make the determination that they are definitely linked. "We certainly are working in conjunction with other agencies in the event they are related."

Car thefts aren't among the most common in East Hampton Town. "We certainly have our share of cars that are taken, abandoned in another jurisdiction, typically in the city, but, no, it's not an overly common occurrence."

Anderson said it is always recommended that car owners not leave their vehicles unlocked or with the keys inside, as it just makes it easier for the thief to steal, he said.

"We would hope common sense would prevail. You certainly are exposing yourself to the probability that at some point in time, either your car is going to be gone through or the car is going to be stolen."

In the Westhampton area, five high-end cars have been stolen in recent weeks. The latest was a 2013 Mercedes, valued at $93,000, taken from the Ocean Dunes Condos on Dune Road on the evening of July 19. There was a spare key in the car.

Earlier this month, a brand-new, Mercedes Benz was stolen from a driveway on Dune Road. The vehicle was delivered one day earlier by a Brooklyn Mercedes Benz dealer and the keys were left hidden in the car.

Another 2013 Mercedes Benz was also taken from a Dune Road driveway in mid-June, around the same time two other cars — a 2013 Mercedes Benz from Quogue and Porsche from Westhampton Dunes which were later recovered in New Jersey — were also reported missing around the same time.