Two deliverymen were allegedly stealing packages from homes while making deliveries for another company.
Jonathan Mendez (left) and Anthony Ortiz-Malave. Photos courtesy of West Hartford Police Department
By Ronni Newton
West Hartford Police have charged two men with stealing packages from West Hartford homes after an alert homeowner saw one of the men picking up packages from his home, confronted the man, and contacted police.
Jonathan Mendez, 25, and Anthony Ortiz-Malave, 21, both of Hartford, were apprehended Wednesday afternoon by West Hartford Police Sgt. Brett Balisciano on I-84 with the assistance of Hartford Police.
According to police, a homeowner on Somerset Street in West Hartford saw a white van pull up in front of his house at approximately 12:40 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 9. A man exited the van, walked toward the Somerset Street house, and grabbed two packages that had been delivered earlier.
The man dropped the packages and went back to the van after he was confronted by the homeowner, but the homeowner was able to get the van’s license plate number and his wife contacted West Hartford Police.
Mendez was identified as the driver of the van and Ortiz-Malave was his passenger, police said. Also inside the van was a package that had been stolen from an address on Westgate Street in West Hartford. Property worth approximately $200 was recovered.
Police said that both men were employed as subcontractors for a company that delivers for office supply and equipment company W.B. Mason, and were stealing packages while making deliveries.
Both men have been charged with sixth-degree larceny and criminal attempt to commit sixth-degree larceny.
West Hartford Police Lt. Ted Stoneburner said that the men were released on bail and are both scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 16.
Police are investigating to determine if the two suspects are connected to other package thefts that have occurred in West Hartford.
They are reminding residents to report any suspicious activity and to bring packages inside as quickly as possible.
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