Man Stole Tools From Stamford Home Under Construction: Police

STAMFORD, CT — A 45-year-old man was arrested on Oct. 9 after police say he stole over $300 worth of tools from a home under construction in Stamford.

Victor Mendoza-Ramos, who does not have a current address, was charged with first-degree burglary and sixth-degree larceny, and he was given a $5,000 court-set bond, according to Stamford Assistant Police Chief Richard Conklin.

Conklin said a contractor working on an unoccupied home in the 60 block of West Broad Street had experienced two prior break-ins and the theft of tools and materials.

The contractor installed his own security camera system at the site, and on Oct. 9 around 4 a.m., the cameras picked up a man breaking into the home through a window and stealing $325 worth of tools, Conklin said.

After the contractor reported the incident to police and provided them with the camera footage later that day, officer Roger Vergara noticed a man matching the description of the one in the security footage on the West Side of Stamford, and he subsequently stopped him and detained him at approximately 12:30 p.m. with the help of officer Ryan Doughan, Conklin said.

Vergara found the man, who was later identified as Mendoza-Ramos, in possession of the stolen tools, Conklin noted, and the contractor was able to positively identify them.

"This was a very nice job by Roger Vergara," Conklin said. "He did a really nice job in observing this guy, detaining him and making a nice arrest in this ongoing burglary situation at this house."