Crime & Safety

Police Blotter: Purse Snatching at the YMCA, A Flasher at Waveny Park & More

New Canaan's finest responded to a few different calls in the past week.

New Canaan police responded to the following calls during the past week:

Resident Nabbed For DWI: A New Canaan resident was arrested for DWI on the evening of Aug. 10. Police stopped 21-year-old Benjamin Newman on Carter Street, after observing him making a sharp left turn onto Silvermine Road and swerving over the double-yellow line. Upon approaching Newman's vehicle, an officer detected an odor of alcohol. According to police, Newman's speech was slurred and he failed a field sobriety test before being taken into custody. Newman posted $250 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 23.  

Credit Card Identity Theft: Police responded to a call of identity theft on Aug. 11 at 5:28 p.m. A 53-year-old resident of Richmond Hill Road told police she had found 17 fraudulent charges on her credit card statement dating back to May 2010. The total amount of charges to the victim is almost $2,400, with the majority made at restaurants and liquor stores. The case is still under investigation.

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Purse Stolen From Car at Y: On Aug. 12 at 12:12 p.m., police responded to a call of larceny at the YMCA on South Avenue. A 40-year-old woman from South Salem left the Y to find the driver's side window of her car had been smashed and her purse had been stolen off the passenger's seat. Police say the woman's pocket book is valued at $20 and the purse had $90 cash, her credit cards, driver's license and other personal effects. The case is still under investigation.

Possible Flasher at Waveny Park: A 20-year-old New Canaan resident was arrested on Aug. 15 after allegedly exposing himself to a woman in Waveny Park. A 48-year-old resident of Stamford told police she was jogging through the park when she ran past a man who had his pants and underwear around his ankles. Police apprehended Trent M. Chini, resident of Smith Ridge Road, after the complainant gave police information about Chini's appearance and vehicle. Chini was charged with second-degree breach of peace, a misdemeanor, and released on a promise to appear on Aug. 24. According to police, Chini says he was merely urinating.  

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Vandalism at Dixon Park: An unnamed complainant on Summer Street called police at 3:19 p.m. on Aug. 12 to report spray paint vandalism at Dixon Park on Hoyt Street. According to police, the park's jungle gym had been sprayed with the image of a crown. Damage is estimated at $100.

Shoplifting at Ralph Lauren: Police responded to a call of larceny on Aug. 15 at 3:10 p.m. at the Ralph Lauren store at 51 Elm Street. Two employees told police they believed a man had stolen a cashmere cardigan sweater, valued at $425. According to police, a review of the store's security camera footage shows a suspect, described as an African American male with a shaved head, standing with his back to the camera, holding a shopping bag. Police say the tape shows the suspect standing next to a stack of three cashmere sweaters. The suspect is seen putting something in a shopping bag he was holding and then walking away, leaving only two sweaters behind. The case is still under investigation.   


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