Stolen Cigarettes Lead Darien Police to Car Burglary

DARIEN, CT- Stolen cigarettes led police to connect a car burglary with the shoplifter, police said.

Police were dispatched to Darien Auto Specialists on the Post Road April 6 for a larceny complaint.

The store owner told police that a man took cigarettes without paying.

The alleged shoplifter Paul Kish, 43, of Bridgeport was apprehended after a foot chase that ended behind BMW of Darien.

Kish entered the store prior to 1 p.m. and asked for a pack of Newports, police said. The cashier turned his back for a moment and Kish then left the store. He was confronted by the owner outside who said he would call the police if he didn’t pay for the cigarettes. Kish allegedly said he wanted to be arrested and left on foot.

Officers had contact with Kish earlier in the shift after he got into an argument with a cashier at the Shell Station on Noroton Avenue after he didn’t have money to pay for a drink.

Officers patted him down for safety because he appeared nervous and found a large amount of spare change.

Police suspected he may have committed a car burglary and after a search found a nearby grey jeep at the train station parking lot that had its door ajar. There was no evidence to suggest it was the target of a car burglary and Kish was released.

Police found a Jeep key on Kish after the cigarette incident and learned that it belonged to the Jeep that was found with its door ajar.

He was charged with sixth-degree larceny, interfering with an officer and third-degree burglary from a motor vehicle.