Madison Purse-Snatching Led To Branford Thefts, Stolen Car Chase: PD

BRANFORD, CT — What began as a purse-snatching in Madison, then thefts in Clinton, ended up in Branford where two of four teens from New Haven were caught by cops and charged. Two other teens escaped in a Kia SUV stolen out of Norwalk, but not after taking police on a wild and dangerous chase.

In a news release posted to social media, Branford police described the incidents:

On June 14, "Branford Police were informed of a purse snatching in Madison and the occupants were operating a Kia SUV. It was also reported that the same suspects then went to Clinton where they used, or attempted to use, the stolen credit cards taken from the purse snatching moments earlier in Madison.

The same suspects came to Branford, where an alert citizen noticed the vehicle driving around the Walmart parking lot. The citizen noticed the vehicle, the same Kia SUV, was driving in circles in the lot with a smashed out window, and the occupants were wearing masks. Officers responded to the area when the vehicle engaged them in a pursuit. The pursuit was broken off, but it was discovered that two of the occupants were still in Walmart.

After a brief foot pursuit, both occupants were placed into custody and identified as juveniles out of New Haven. The juveniles had stolen numerous items from Walmart. It was also discovered that the Kia SUV that they were in was stolen from the city of Norwalk.

The vehicle was re-located a short time later, and officers attempted to stop the vehicle a second time. The vehicle began driving recklessly, including driving through yards to avoid apprehension. Given the nature of the incident and the circumstances, officers are not allowed to pursue the vehicle, therefore the pursuit was terminated.

The two juveniles (that were in Walmart) were arrested for conspiracy to commit larceny of a motor vehicle, sixth-degree larceny and interfering with an officer.

It was confirmed that the stolen Kia that engaged our officers in a pursuit, was the same one used in the purse snatching from Madison. And that one of the juveniles in our custody was the one who stole the purse from the victim's vehicle.

Madison police came to Branford headquarters. The juvenile, observed on video taking the purse, was also arrested by them. Both juveniles have been arrested in the past for related crimes, one was wearing a GPS ankle monitor, and the other has been arrested within the last 24 hours from a similar incident."