Teen Tries to Steal Hartford Cop's Personal Vehicle

HARTFORD, CT — A Hartford police officer got an unexpected and unwelcome surprise early Thursday morning, when a local teenager attempted to steal his personal vehicle from the parking lot of police headquarters.

Shortly before 2:40 a.m., the officer had started his vehicle, which had been experiencing battery issues, in the gravel parking lot. When he returned to his vehicle, he noticed it was moving slowly, prompting him to think he may have put it into drive, police said.

As the officer reached the vehicle, he encountered a teenager in the driver's seat. The teen was immediately taken into custody without incident, police said.

Christian Rodriguez, 19, of Benton Street in Hartford, was charged with third-degree criminal trespass, third-degree larceny and interfering with an officer.

Photo credit: Tim Jensen