Surveillance Footage Helps Nab Car Rummager In Middletown

MIDDLETOWN, CT — A woman is accused of breaking into one vehicle and trying to get into another in Middletown, police said.

According to an arrest report, at 11:16 a.m. on Sept. 28, Middletown Police officers were flagged down by a pedestrian at Main Street and Liberty Street, who told them someone had attempted to break into his vehicle on the 100 block of Lincoln Street that this morning.

The man told officers that he had home surveillance footage showing a woman trying to get into his vehicle which was parked in his driveway, according to an arrest report. The woman was also shown entering a neighbor's unlocked vehicle before before leaving the area, according to an arrest report.

The owner of the second vehicle told police that nothing appeared to be missing, according to an arrest report.

When the surveillance footage was shown to other Middletown officers, they immediately identified the woman as Melissa Mishler, according to an arrest report. Mishler denied being on the property this morning, but was aware of the previous incident in which she was warned to stay away from the second driveway, police said.

Mishler was arrested, and during a search, a crack pipe and steel wool were located on her, according to an arrest report. Steel wool is commonly used as a crack pipe filter, according to authorities.

Mishler was charged with:

• Third-degree burglary
• Criminal Attempt at burglary in the third degree
• First-degree criminal trespass
• Possession of drug paraphernalia