use  @{ $searches{$conn} || [] }

The explanation

$ perl -le " use strict; use diagnostics; my $peter; print scalar @$pe
+ter;
Can't use an undefined value as an ARRAY reference at -e line 1 (#1)
    (F) A value used as either a hard reference or a symbolic referenc
+e must
    be a defined value.  This helps to delurk some insidious errors.

Uncaught exception from user code:
        Can't use an undefined value as an ARRAY reference at -e line 
+1.
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On explanation Basic debugging checklist (with Read this if you want to cut your development time in half! )