A resident contacted police after witnessing someone entering cars Sunday morning, and West Hartford Police quickly took the suspect into custody.

By Ronni Newton

West Hartford Police arrested a juvenile Sunday morning in connection with car burglaries in the area of Dover Road and Farmington Avenue, and are thankful to a neighbor for reporting the suspicious activity that led to the quick apprehension.

According to police, a report was received at 8:41 a.m. Sunday from a resident who said that a black male with a backpack was entering cars in the area of 20 Dover Rd.

A second witness also contacted police and reported seeing a black male entering cars in the parking lot of the Beth David Synagogue, on the east side of the intersection of Dover and Farmington.

Police responded immediately and located the suspect behind St. Thomas Church which is located on the west side of the intersection of Dover and Farmington.

Police questioned the suspect, and said he gave “conflicting stories” about where he had been and where he was going.

Police conducted a search of the suspect as well as his backpack, and said they found a large amount of loose change and numerous pairs of sunglasses. They also found a check and a credit card in a name that did not match the suspect’s, as well as a class ring engraved with someone else’s name.

The suspect was charged with burglary, but because he is a juvenile, police did not release any further details.

Police said that this is a great example of the impact quick reporting of suspicious activity can have, and posted on the Town of West Hartford Police Department Facebook page at 11 a.m. Sunday: “A big thank you to an alert neighbor on Dover Rd. this morning. She witnessed a party entering unlocked cars and called the WHPD. Thanks to her we have him in custody.”

West Hartford Police have been dealing with a large number of car burglaries as well as car thefts over the past several months, and have repeatedly requested that residents make sure their car doors are locked, valuables are kept out of the car or out of sight, and also that residents remain alert and not hesitate to report anything suspicious.

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