Crime & Safety

Teen Car Theft Suspect Is Caught in New Canaan

With the help of police dogs, the suspect was found hiding beneath the porch of a New Canaan home early Tuesday.


A suspicious vehicle and erratic driving caught the attention of one New Canaan Police officer and that ultimately led to the arrest of one teen accused of stealing the car.

According to New Canaan Police, at about 12:10 a.m., Officer Rex Sprosta was on routine patrol when he saw a suspicious vehicle on Jeliff Mill Road near Ponus Ridge Road. The suspect vehicle was operating erratically, police said.

Sprosta followed the suspect vehicle and it turned onto Clearview Lane. The suspect vehicle came to an abrupt stop and the occupants fled the vehicle, police said. The New York-registered vehicle was found to be stolen from Stamford so police began an intensive search of the area.

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New Canaan Officers, Stamford Officers, Norwalk Officers, and K9s from both Stamford and Norwalk searched the area. Approximately 30 minutes into the search, New Canaan Sgt. Casey, Stamford Officer Dogali and K9 Bobi, and Stamford Officer Kiselman found a juvenile suspect hiding under a porch in a nearby yard. K9 Bobi brought the officers to the area where the suspect was hiding and a 17-year-old Stamford youth was taken into custody.

The juvenile was charged with second-degree larceny, second-degree criminal trover, interfering with an officer, reckless driving and operating without a license. The juvenile will be transported to Bridgeport Juvenile Detention Center.

Find out what's happening in New Canaanwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Criminal trover is defined as when a person "knowing that he is not licensed or privileged to do so, he uses the personal property of another without the consent of such owner, and such use results in damage to or diminishes the value of such property or subjects such owner to economic loss, fine or other penalty," according to LawJustia.com

New Canaan Police Chief Leon Krolikowski said in a statement, "The success of this investigation is the direct result of the hard work, aggressiveness and dedication of the members of the New Canaan Police Department’s Patrol Division, members of the Norwalk Police Department’s Patrol Division, members of the Stamford Police Department’s Patrol Division, K9 Kimbo from Norwalk and K9 Bobi from Stamford."

Police also said the investigation is continuing and more arrests are possible.

 


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