3 Men Arrested On Car Theft Charges In Greenwich: Police

GREENWICH, CT — Police said three men accused of stealing a car in Greenwich were arrested early Sunday morning. According to Lt. Mark Zuccerella, officers responded to the area of Buena Vista Drive around 3 a.m. after receiving a report of a residence losing power, which was reported as being "suspicious."

The homeowners told officers three men were recorded on their surveillance system entering their property, however nothing appeared to have been taken or touched, Zuccerella said. (To sign up for Greenwich breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

"Several stolen vehicle complaints have been made by the residents of this section of Gelnville," Zuccerella said in an email. "The suspects enter a property and then check the vehicles in the driveway to see if the vehicle is unlocked and the keys [are inside]. If so, the vehicle is then stolen by the suspects."

About 45 minutes later, an officer on patrol along Glenville Road noticed three men traveling in a silver Audi. According to Zuccerella, the officer noticed the men matched the description of the suspects who had trespassed on Buena Vista Drive and stopped the vehicle on Brookside Drive.

The driver was later identified as Erickson Chojoj-oklaj, 19, of Norwalk, while the two passengers were identified as Fernando Arce, 18, and Angel Buceta, 18, both also of Norwalk.

Chojoj-oklaj initially told the officer he did not know his own name, Zuccerella said. The officer also noticed a large folding knife in the vehicle's center console cup holder.

According to Zuccerella, neither the driver nor the passengers had a valid driver's license.

"It was further revealed the Audi was stolen out of a driveway on Riversville Road," Zuccerella said. "The keys were left in the vehicle and it was unlocked."

The officer also located burglary tools, controlled substances and the knife, which had "a blade larger than the legal limit," and both Arce and Buceta were found to have cutting tools in the waistbands of their pants, Zuccerella said.

"The [men] were also linked to entering an unlocked vehicle on Linden Place and stealing items within, as well as leaving a Volvo in the middle of the road on Porchuck Road," Zuccerella said. "The Volvo was stolen out of Norwalk."

All three men were arrested on charges of first and sixth-degree larceny, third-degree burglary, possession of burglar tools, simple trespass and possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle. They were also cited for drug possession.

Zuccerella said police are still investigating other cases that occurred the night the three men were arrested. The lieutenant also praised Officer Jeffrey Franco, who he said did "an outstanding job" locating the men and the stolen vehicle.

"[Franco] took the information from the previous suspicious person call and put himself in the right place to see if he could locate them," Zuccerella said. "He and the other officers on the midnight shift have been diligent in their efforts to help disrupt, prevent and apprehend the subjects responsible for car thefts in Greenwich."