2 Hamden Residents Steal Car, Ditch It While Its Still Running as Woman Yells at Them: East Haven Police

EAST HAVEN, CT — The East Haven Police Department reports multiple arrests stemming from a stolen car investigation that began when residents heard their car start up in their driveway on Kenny Court, police said.

A 2:22 a.m. Sunday officers responded to Kenny Court, for a report of a vehicle theft in progress, police said. The vehicle owner told 911 dispatch that they were alerted to the theft when they heard their car start up and saw it reverse down the driveway, Police Lt. Joseph Murgo said.

The vehicle owner advised police that she ran outside after the vehicle and yelled for the individuals to get out of her car, at which point they jumped out with the vehicle still in gear forcing the second vehicle owner to jump in the car and place it in gear before it struck a neighbor’s house, police said.

The vehicle owner advised police that the two individuals fled towards Dodge Avenue and that she would be able to identify them if they were located, police said.

Officers located two individuals that matched the description provided walking west bound on Dodge Avenue near Burr Street, police said.

The two individuals advised police that they were coming from a party in the area but could not provide an Hamden also had a large amount of coins in his possession, consistent with burglarizing vehicles and stealing loose change, police said. The other individual was identified as a juvenile from Hamden, police said.

Pope Jr. and the juvenile suspect were arrested once the vehicle owner identified the two detained individuals as the same individuals who attempted to steal her car, police said.

John Pope Jr. was charged with Burglary in the Third Degree, Larceny in the Third Degree, Conspiracy to Commit Burglary in the Third Degree, and Conspiracy to Commit Larceny in the Third Degree.

Pope Jr. was held on a $5,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on April 12. The juvenile suspect was charged with identical charges and is scheduled to appear in juvenile court on April 11.

"We cannot stress enough to our residents the value of simply locking their vehicle doors. An overwhelming amount of vehicle thefts and burglaries are happening to people who do not lock up at night. Most of the criminals who are out at night are looking for easy targets and continue on when they encounter locked doors, motion detection lights, dogs, and other simple crime deterrents," Lt. Murgo said in a statement.

"Also, be vigilant and do not hesitate to call the police if you observe suspicious behavior. Although approaching the suspects worked out in this case, we do not recommend approaching criminals during the commission of a crime. You never know how motivated they are to get away or what they might do to ensure their identity remains concealed."

Image via East Haven Police Department