WESTPORT — Launching a crackdown on auto theft, Westport police have joined a task force with nearby communities to deter the crime throughout the region.

Despite ramping up enforcement, however, police officials say the most effective deterrent to car theft and break-ins probably is to make sure keys are not left in a vehicle and to lock it.

In recent Westport stolen-car incidents, “In almost every case, the stolen vehicle was unlocked with the keys [key fob] inside,” according to a police statement on the new task force.

The regional campaign, in addition to Westport, includes police from Bridgeport, Fairfield, Stratford, Monroe and Newtown.

Police Chief Foti Koskinas, in the statement, said “by sharing resources and information with other communities that are also experiencing a large number of motor vehicle thefts, our ability to solve these crimes increases exponentially.”  

Many vehicle thefts in the region have been carried out by juveniles and young adults, according to the statement.

“While the theft of cars may seem like a youthful indiscretion to some,” Koskinas said, “it is important to keep in mind that these stolen vehicles are often used in the commission of very serious crimes such as robberies and shootings.”