Crime & Safety
Homeless Pair Nabbed in West Hartford Burglaries
A resident came home to find two men burglarizing his West Hartford home and gave chase when they fled.
A pair of men are in custody thanks to a West Hartford resident who chased down one of the two men he found burglarizing his home on July 4.
According to a West Hartford Police report, the arrest of the pair — described by police as homeless — helped to solve two of four recent burglaries reported in town, including one in which the resident was home at the time.
Police gave this account of the incident:
The homeowner of 107 Brace Rd. "arrived home to find two males actively burglarizing his home. When the two suspects ran out of the home east on Brace Road the homeowner gave chase while calling the police. The homeowner was able to tackle and detain one suspect at the corner of Brace Road and Dale Street." Officer J. Swank was in the area while on his DUI patrol and took custody of the suspect.
Several officers saturated the center of West Hartford searching for the second suspect. Officers started foot patrols speaking with patrons in the (town) center and door personnel of local businesses.
The second suspect was located by Officers Riley and Gagnon, hiding in the construction zone behind 11 So. Main St.
Both suspects when located were in possession of stolen property from the victim's home where the front door was kicked in, according to police. Also, the first suspect's girlfriend was located in the area but it was determined she wasn't part of the burglary.
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Christopher Colby, 29, and Roberto Colon, 43, were each charged with first-degree burglary, conspiracy to commit first-degree burglary, possession of burglary tools, second-degree criminal mischief, conspiracy to commit second-degree criminal mischief, third-degree larceny, and conspiracy to commit third-degree larceny.
Colby and Colon are being held in lieu of $250,000 bond each.
Find out what's happening in West Hartfordfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Details on the other burglaries were not immediately available.
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