Berlin Home Invasion Victim Flung Off Car Trying To Stop Burglars: Police

BERLIN, CT — Two men have been charged in connection with a home invasion in Berlin on Friday night that resulted in one victim being flung off a vehicle as he tried to stop the suspects himself.

The Berlin Police Department identified the suspects as being Robert Cotton, 32, and Matthew O'Connor, 32.

Both were charged with burglary, vehicle theft, and reckless endangerment, police said in a release over the weekend.

The duo was being held on $25,000 bond each and were slated to appear in court on Monday, Dec. 22.

The BPD said at approximately 11:38 p.m. Friday, the BPD received a call of a burglary in progress at a residence on New Britain Road.

"Upon arrival, the victim stated that he was awoken by a noise in his residence and investigated to find two male suspects fleeing out a door," wrote Berlin police.

"The suspects had forced entry through a window. The suspects got into the victim’s vehicle in his driveway and began to drive away when the victim jumped on the hood to try and stop them."

Police said the victim was then ejected from the hood as the suspects drove away.

The victim received only minor injuries from striking the ground, police said.

According to the BPD, the suspects stole the victim’s wallet and vehicle keys.

Berlin police determined that the victim’s credit card had been used shortly after the theft.

At approximately 3:30 a.m. on Saturday, the vehicle was stopped by Hartford police, and Berlin officers responded, arresting two of the vehicle's four occupants in relation to the burglary and vehicle theft.

One of the suspects claimed a relative of his owned the vehicle, and he was retrieving the vehicle for them, police said.