Teen Charged With Stealing Purse From Vehicle In Trumbull: Police

Crime & Safety

Teen Charged With Stealing Purse From Vehicle In Trumbull: Police A New Haven teen accused of stealing a purse from an unlocked car at a Trumbull​ gas station was recently arrested, according to police.

TRUMBULL, CT — A New Haven teen accused of stealing a purse from an unlocked car in Trumbull earlier this year was arrested last week, according to police.

In a news release, Police Lt. Brian Weir said the department received a report on Sept. 26 of a purse stolen from an unlocked car parked at the gas pumps of a station on White Plains Road around 3 p.m.

According to Weir, the driver was pumping gas into their vehicle when they noticed the vehicle shake, then saw a silver SUV exit the gas station onto White Plains Road at a high rate of speed.

The driver then checked inside the vehicle and noticed their purse had been stolen from the seat. No injuries were reported, according to Weir.

Police reviewed surveillance footage that showed a silver Acura RDX stop next to the vehicle. A suspect then exited the Acura and stole a purse from the other vehicle before fleeing the area, Weir said.

Detectives learned the Acura had been reported stolen to the West Haven Police Department on Sept. 24 and had also been involved in numerous other purse snatching incidents throughout the state, according to Weir.

Detectives followed up on several leads and worked with other law enforcement agencies to determine the identity of a 17-year-old New Haven teen, whose identity was not released due to their age.

The teen was already in the custody of the Department of Corrections for unrelated crimes and is now being charged in connection to the purse theft, which Weir noted has "become an increasingly more frequent type of crime in recent months."

Weir also said police are working to identify other suspects involved in the purse theft.

The teen was charged with conspiracy to commit larceny of a motor vehicle and conspiracy to commit fifth-degree larceny.

The teen was released to the custody of the court, where he was arraigned and released on a promise to appear in the New Haven Superior Court for Juvenile Matters later this month, according to Weir.

"There has been a recent trend in these crimes where thieves use stolen vehicles to target unsuspecting victims by sneaking up, entering vehicles and [stealing] valuables," Weir said in a news release. "The Trumbull police are asking the public to be vigilant and be aware of their surroundings."

Anyone with information regarding this incident or a related crime is asked to contact the Trumbull Police Department at (203) 261-3665, or dial 911 for emergencies.