Trail Cams Help Nab Theft Suspect At Vernon Nature Preserve: Cops

VERNON, CT — A system of "trail cameras" helped catch a suspect in a series of car burglaries at a popular Vernon wildlife preserve, police said.

Amedee Santiago, 43, of Hartford, was served a warrant this week, police said. He has been charged with third-degree burglary, fourth-degree larceny, sixth-degree larceny (three counts), second-degree criminal mischief and credit card by transfer (two counts), according to the warrant.

The idea for the trail cams came after an "uptick in motor vehicle burglaries" at the Belding Wildlife Management Area, police said in the warrant. Two were installed to "capture the parking lot area," police said.

In one instance, a car window had been smashed and purse was removed from the vehicle, according to a warrant. The purse was valued at $100 and about $1,400 worth of stuff was in it, including a $1,350 pair of glasses and a key to another car, according to a warrant. Debit and credit cards were also in the purse, according to a warrant.

The car was traced to Santiago, who has a number of theft-related crimes listed on his criminal record, according to a warrant.

Ten transactions on three cards, ranging from a buck at a Hartford car wash to $133 and $249 at the Manchester Walmart, were reported from the Belding incident, according to the warrant. Santiago was also caught on video at the Walmart eletronics department, according to the warrant.

Santiago claimed he was "stressed out about finances" because the wet spring weather hindered his work as a landscaper, according to the warrant. He said there was about $45 in cash in the purse as well, according to the warrant.

He is accused of using a screwdriver to break the car window, according to a warrant.