Car Burglars Caught After Foot Chase: Wallingford Police

Wallingford Police apprehended two men accused of stealing tires and rims from vehicles at an auto dealership following a foot chase Wednesday night.

Hartford residents Jonuel Mojica, 23, and Luis Santos, 31, face several charges after Wallingford Police were dispatched to Imports Unlimited, 569 North Colony Road, at about 8:40 p.m. on Nov. 11 on the report of someone possibly stealing tires and rims from a vehicle at the business.

Responding officers observed two males standing near a gray van in the parking lot and the men ran once they saw the officers. They ran through the parking lot of Rite Aid, across Cedar Lane to a wooded area behind the Colony Diner, according to Lt. Cheryl Bradley.

Bradley said police pursued the suspects on foot and they were subdued in the wooded area.

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Both men were found to be in possession of lug nuts and subsequently admitted to breaking windows of the vehicles and stealing rims and tires from the vehicles, according to Bradley.

As a result of the investigation, it was determined that Mojica and Santos had been operating a 2002 GMC Safari with a misuse of registration plates. Inside the van were four Nissan tires and rims, four Lexus tires and rims, a Snap-On 18 volt drill, a pry bar, a large socket wrench, duct tape and 34 lug nuts, according to Bradley.

In total, five vehicles were broken into by means of smashing the front passenger windows. All five had the glove boxes opened and two of the five had the tires and rims removed.

The owner of the business responded and determined the estimate of the damage to be $3,200 and the total value of the tires and rims was $6,500, according to Bradley.

Mojica, of 259 Collins Street, and Santos, of 55 Sherbrooke Avenue, were both taken into custody and each charged with the following:

• Five counts of third-degree burglary
• First-degree criminal mischief
• Four counts of second-degree criminal mischief
• Third-degree larceny
• Interfering with an investigation
• Conspiracy to commit third-degree burglary
• Conspiracy to commit first-degree criminal mischief
• Conspiracy to commit second-degree criminal mischief
• Conspiracy to commit third-degree larceny

Santos was released after posting a $25,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 25.

Mojica was held on a $25,000 bond. He was also served with three violation of probation warrants. He is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 25.

Pictured: Jonuel Mojica, 23, (left) and Luis Santos, 31, both of Hartford. Wallingford Police Department photos