Initially Reported As Armed Carjacking, Thieves Stole Luxury Car From Branford Condo In Broad Daylight: PD

BRANFORD, CT — What was initially reported to be an armed carjacking was instead an attempt by two male "suspects" to steal a high-end car that the owner later told police had keys in it and was running, Branford police said.

According to police, at around 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, a person reported being "carjacked by gunpoint" from a condo on Maple Street. Two male suspects arrived in a black Alfa Romeo, police said, and the victim reported one suspect got out and began approaching the silver BMW X3.

The owner was detailing the vehicle at the time, police said. The victim told police, the male suspect "lifted his sweatshirt and displayed a handgun in his waistband." And then got into the Silver BMW and fled.

The other suspect fled in the black Alfa Romeo, both southbound on I-95. Several police agencies were involved in pursuit of these vehicles, police said. Those included Connecticut State Police, East Haven, Meriden, Berlin, and Naugatuck police.

The BMW was located in Berlin, where it was secured and brought back to Branford for processing, and the Alfa Romeo was located in Naugatuck unoccupied, Branford police said.

"It was later determined through surveillance and interviews that the victim, who reported the incident, did not actually see a firearm, and they told police that because they left the keys in the vehicle running," police said in a news release.

The incident led Meriden officials to issue a "be-on-the-lookout" advisory to residents for a carjacking suspect that may have been armed.

Meriden officials said a pursuit of the stolen vehicle ended when the driver crashed near the Meriden / Berlin town line. A suspect then ran from the scene, according to officials.

Presently, there are no suspects in custody.

The Branford Police Detective Division is working on this active case. Anyone with information or who witnessed this incident is urged to contact Detective Josef Herten at 203-481-4241 x4261.

"We thank numerous police agencies: Connecticut State Police, East Haven Police, Meriden Police, Berlin Police and Naugatuck Police for their assistance with this incident," police said.