4 Teens, Ages 13-15 Charged In Connection With Stolen Cars, Bikes: PD

BRANFORD, CT —Four teens were charged in connection with stolen cars and bicycles, Branford police reported.

Late Wednesday afternoon, an East Main Street resident reported to police they'd witnessed two minors steal two bicycles from their residence, Branford police noted on Facebook. Officers, given an "accurate description," found the teens nearby on East Main near the Interstate 95 Exit 55 on-ramp. Police said the minors "got off the bikes and engaged officers in a foot pursuit" into the woods near the exit. One was caught a short distance away, and the other, caught on Meadow Circle Road after an "alert neighbor observed the individual running into rear yards," police wrote.

Police said that the teen caught near the I-95 exit, an 15-year-old from East Haven, "resisted arrest and later spit in the face of an officer." He was charged with assault on an officer and sixth-degree larceny. The other minor, caught near Meadow Circle Road, was identified as a 14-year-old resident of Deltona, Florida. He was charged with sixth-degree larceny.

Nearly 12 hours later, at around 4:30 a.m. Thursday, police said an "alert citizen" on Todd’s Hill Road called police about suspicious activity. The person reported to police that they heard "breaking glass" and saw "numerous individuals fleeing the area in several vehicles at a high rate of speed." Officers found a disabled stolen vehicle nearby and saw two people running into the woods on North Main Street, the social media press release reads. A 13-year-old and a 14-year-old, both from New Haven, were taken into custody after cops found them "hiding inside the complex at 26 North Main St."

The two were charged with first-degree trover, second-degree criminal mischief and larceny of a motor vehicle, police said.

Officers were able to locate and recover two additional stolen vehicles in the immediate area, police noted.

"Branford Police would like to remind residents to please lock your vehicles and remove any valuables from plain sight within the vehicle," they posted to Facebook. And asked residents who observe "suspicious activity," contact police immediately at 203-481-4241 or via 911, when necessary.

"We thank the residents who promptly called us on both these cases, their information aided in a successful resolution," police wrote.