First Thought to Be a Burglar, 20-Year-Old Was ... Locking Car Doors

A man spotted opening and closing doors of vehicles parked at Cotaling’s Auto Body shop at 130 Connecticut Ave. was detained by store employees, but police found no stolen goods on him, according to a report in the Norwalk Hour.

The following account (with accusations not proven in court) was given in the Hour and based on Norwalk police statements:

Various witnesses said that on Friday they saw the man — Alexander Louis of Magnolia Avenue — acting suspiciously by opening (and closing) one car door after another parked at the body shop.

Police looked over video surveillance recordings from around 12:42 p.m., when Louis was first spotted, and spoke to the suspect, who appeared to be doing just what he said he was doing — locking the unlocked doors, taking nothing.

No stolen goods were on him when the Cotaling’s employees detained him in the parking lot of a nearby diner, the Hour reported.

Initial burglary charges were dropped, and his initial $20,000 bond was reduced to a promise to appear in court — on trespassing charges. Cotaling’s property is clearly marked “No Trespassing.”