Man Walks Out of Hospital and Steals Car: East Haven PD

EAST HAVEN,CT - A Shelton man has been charged with stealing a car after he was discharged as a patient from Yale-New Haven Hospital, police said Tuesday.

An arrest has been made after a License Plate Reader alerted East Haven police to a stolen car in the area. On March 24, while on routine patrol, a mounted automatic License Plate Reader alerted Officer Jon Trinh that a stolen 2014 Nissan Versa had just passed him.

Trinh followed the stolen Versa to a driveway on Harrington Avenue, where he made contact with the vehicle’s operator, later identified as David Boles, 60, police said.

Boles initially stated that he purchased the vehicle at CarMax “several months ago” but was unable to provide any supporting documents to prove the purchase, police said. Trinh became suspicious when Boles stated he purchased the vehicle for a lot less than what the vehicle seemed to be worth, police said.

After further questioning, Boles eventually admitted to stealing the vehicle, police said. Boles advised officers that he stole the vehicle in New Haven several months ago after he was discharged from Yale New Haven Hospital, police said.

He stated that as he walked out of the hospital, a valet attendant mistook him for the Nissan Versa’s owner and gave him the keys, police said. Boles stated he did not object, got in the vehicle, and drove away, police said. He advised officers that at the time, he was homeless and needed a method of transportation to leave the area, police said.

Boles was subsequently placed under arrest. While speaking with Boles, it was also discovered that he had an active arrest warrant out of Connecticut State Police Troop G.

David Boles was charged with Larceny in the Second Degree, and Operating a Vehicle with a Suspended License. He was transported to the East Haven Police Department, processed and held on a $10,000 bond.