Waterford Police Catch Man Trying to Burglarize a Vehicle: Police

WATERFORD, CT — Police in an effort to crack down on an increase of thefts involving unattended automobiles have stepped up patrols and it paid off quickly as officers arrested a New London man for allegedly attempting to burglarize from cars, police said.

On Thursday Sept. 15 members of the Waterford Police Department Patrol Division conducted surveillance of a local parking lot based a recent rise of burglaries into unattended vehicles, police said.

During that surveillance, a uniformed patrol officer observed a vehicle enter the parking lot and conduct unusual vehicle movements, police said. The operator and sole occupant of that vehicle, a silver 2002 Volkswagen Beetle, exited and began to walk around the parking lot peering into vehicles, police said.

At that point the subject begins to reach toward his back pockets, police said. The officer recognized this behavior consistent with a person about commit a burglary, police said.

The officer approached the subject and conducted a pat down for evidence of the crime and weapons, police said. During the pat down the officer located tools consistent with committing a burglary and a cell phone, police said. A second officer arrived on-scene to assist.

The investigation found the Beetle to be unregistered and had no insurance, police said. It was also determined the Beetle’s number plate was recently stolen from a vehicle parked in the City of New London, police said. The subject, Jose Juan Garcia 41, of Broad Street, of New London was arrested and the cell phone was determined to be stolen from another recent vehicle burglary, police said.

Garcia was arrested and transported to the Waterford Police Department for processing. Garcia was charged with the following crimes: Burglary in the Third Degree, (2 counts), Possession of Burglary Tools, Larceny in the Fifth Degree, Possession of Stolen Marker Plate, Mis-Use of Plate, Operating a Motor Vehicle while Under Suspension, Failure to meet Minimum Insurance, and Operating an Unregistered Motor Vehicle.

Garcia was released on a $2,500.00 non-surety bond, for court in New London, CT.

Anyone with information on on-going criminal activity is encouraged to the Waterford Police Department.

Image via the Waterford Police Department Facebook page