Car Burglary Suspects Tracked Down by K-9 Maverick, Officers: Fairfield Police

FAIRFIELD, CT — Four teens were arrested early Monday morning after police say they fled on foot from a vehicle that had been reported stolen and were tracked down by officers and K-9 units.

Fairfield and surrounding communities have seen a measurable uptick in vehicle break-ins and vehicle thefts over the past several weeks.

“The suspects in these cases have been traveling into residential neighborhoods by car and victimizing as many vehicles that they can find UNLOCKED,” Fairfield Police said in a press release. “In most cases they are able to steal purses, computers, GPS units, cellular phones, cash and loose change within the vehicles.”

A Fairfield Police officer was conducting business checks at about 2:12 a.m. on Jan. 16 as a result of several car thefts and burglaries that have been reported in the area of Southport and Westport.

The officer observed a suspicious vehicle on the side of Pease Avenue parked with its lights on.

“As he pulled up to the vehicle, four occupants jumped from the car and fled on foot into the woods nearby,” police wrote in the release. “Officers were able to make an immediate arrest of one of the suspects after a short foot pursuit. Officers were then notified that the vehicle was stolen out of Berlin.”

Fairfield Police K-9 Maverick, Norwalk Police K-9 Kimbo and State Police K- Silver all responded to the area to assist with a track on the three additional suspects, according to police.

Police said one juvenile suspect was taken into custody near the stolen car approximately 12 minutes later and a third suspect was seen by officers in the area and was able to run away.

K-9 teams tracked in the area of Post Road and South Pine Creek Road and K-9 Maverick located the suspect hiding under a vehicle near 2149 Post Road, according to police.

James Harris, 18, was arrested and charged with third-degree larceny and interfering with an officer after he was found in a stolen vehicle and attempted to flee on foot, along with several other suspects, according to police. He was apprehended a short distance away by officers.

Juvenile #1 (whose name was withheld due to his age) was arrested and charged with third-degree larceny and interfering with an officer, after he was found in a stolen vehicle, fled the scene on foot along with several other suspects, but was apprehended later by officers, according to police.

Juvenile #2 was arrested and charged with third-degree larceny and interfering with an officer, after he was found in a stolen vehicle, fled the scene on foot along with several other suspects, but was apprehended approximately three hours later by K-9 Maverick, according to police.

A fourth juvenile suspect was taken into custody at approximately 6 a.m. after he reported to a passerby that he was kidnapped and dropped off in the area, police said. Fairfield officers investigated and determined that the juvenile was involved with the stolen vehicle investigation earlier.

Harris was initially held on a $20,000 bond but was later released on a promise to appear in court.

Pictured: James Harris, 18 / via the Fairfield Police Department