2 Men Try to Steal $4K Worth of Tires from Courtney Honda: Milford Police

MILFORD, CT — Two New Haven man were apprehended with the help of a police K-9 after they took tires off of cars leaving them on cinder blocks at Courtney Honda early Saturday, police said.

Milford police said the men tried to take $4,000 worth of tires and damaged a fence on the property.

At 3:45 a.m. on Sept. 3 Milford Police Officers were dispatched to Courtney Honda, 767 Bridgeport Avenue, on the report of suspicious males walking around the lot, police said. While en-route to the scene, officers were notified that video surveillance being viewed by a staff member, who was off site, showed two men taking tires off of cars in the lot leaving the cars on cinder blocks, police said.

Officers established a perimeter forcing the suspects to attempt to hide in the lot. Utilizing the department K-9 team Officer Owens and K-9 Zar, the suspects were contained and shortly thereafter apprehended, police said.

Luis Rodriquez, 30, of Lamberton Street, New Haven and Ismael Mercado, 29, of Ann Street, New Haven were both taken into custody. Mercado was treated on scene for an injury sustained when he attempted to run from K-9 Zar, and was later brought to the ER for further evaluation, police said.

Rodriguez and Mercado attempted to take $4,000 worth of tires and did approximately $500 worth of damage to a fence through which they gained entry to the lot, police said.

Rodriguez and Mercado are charged with the following: third-degree larceny, criminal attempt to commit third-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit third-degree larceny, criminal trespassing, tampering with a motor vehicle, criminal mischief, and interfering/resisting arrest.

Rodriguez and Mercado were released on $10,000 bond each to appear in Milford Court on Sept. 27.