Man Accused of Smashing Car Window and Taking Purse in Ellington Park Charged With Several Crimes

ELLINGTON, CT — A man accused of breaking a car window at an Ellington Park, stealing a purse and then going on a shopping spree in Manchester a year-and-a-half ago has been charged for the incident, state police said.

Vincent Whiteley 56, who is currently a prisoner in the state corrections system according to state police, was charged for the Ellington incident with with third-degree identity theft, third-degree burglary, third-degree criminal mischief, sixth-degree larceny, credit card theft, the illegal use of a credit card and the receipt of money and goods because of illegal credit card theft, state police said.

According to a warrant on June 5, 2015, a area couple parked their Mini Cooper in the lot of Brookside Park in Ellington and went into the park. The two were then approached by someone saying she thought a rear window in their car had been broken.

The couple returned to the car and discovered a purse was missing, according to an arrest warrant.

Bank withdrawals — some successful and some denied — began to emerge, the couple told state police.

The purse was located at a Vernon car wash by Vernon police, according to an arrest warrant.

A $202 purchase emerged by Bob's Stores in Manchester's Buckland Hills district, according to an arrest warrant.

Charges were also recorded at Kohl's, Wal-Mart and Bed, Bath and Beyond, according to a warrant.

Whiteley is also a suspect in similar cases in other parks in the state, according to an arrest warrant.

He is due back in court for the Ellington incident on Jan 31 on a $20,000 bond, a clerk at the court said.

Photo Credit: CSP