Teen, 17, Caught Burglarizing Vehicles Overnight: Wallingford PD

WALLINGFORD, CT — A 17-year-old New Haven resident was arrested after police say he burglarized several vehicles during the overnight hours on Thursday and stole a car out of New Haven. A second suspect ran from police and got away.

Police responded to the area of South Orchard Street around 2:15 a.m. on the report of “suspicious activity,” according to Lt. Cheryl Bradley. The caller told police that he saw two people wearing hoodies walking down his driveway, Bradley said. One of the responding officers checked the area and saw the two suspects run across Fairview Avenue.

“As the officers continued looking for the suspects, another resident called in to report that the two were hiding behind a fence on Fairview Avenue,” Bradley wrote in a press release. “The suspects engaged the officers in a foot pursuit and one of the two was apprehended.”

The suspect, a 17-year-old boy from New Haven, was found to be in the possession of several credit cards in other people’s names, earbuds, sunglasses and a coin purse, according to Bradley.

Bradley said the items were taken from three unlocked vehicles in the area. Police also found a parked vehicle on Fairview Avenue near Baldwin Avenue that was reported stolen out of New Haven. The 17-year-old later admitted to driving the stolen vehicle out of New Haven, according to Bradley.

Later that morning, a Lincoln Avenue resident reported that his 2001 Toyota Tacoma was stolen from his driveway, Bradley said.

The 17-year-old was charged with third-degree larceny, three counts of sixth-degree larceny and three counts of third-degree burglary. He was released to the custody of a parent and is scheduled to appear in Juvenile Court in New Haven on Jan. 22.