New Haven Teen Charged in Two Hamden Burglaries

Hamden Police have arrested a New Haven teenager they say is responsible for several burglaries that have occurred in recent days.

On Friday, a Blake Road resident reported to police that someone had broken into their home while they were asleep and taken electronic equipment and the homeowner's car, Hamden Police spokesman Capt. Ronald Smith said.

Then on Monday, police got a report of a similar incident on Augur Street, Smith said, when someone entered the house through an unlocked window while the residents slept and stole items from the home.

Early Tuesday morning, police found the car that was stolen from the Blake Road home parked on a New Haven street, Smith said, and set up surveillance, waiting to see who would get in it. Eventually the teenager got into the car and starting driving down Huntington Street in New Haven, Smith said.

When officers tried to pull him over at the intersection of Winchester Avenue and Division Street, the teen refused to pull over, Smith said, and took off down Division Street. But moments later the car crashed on Sheffield Avenue near Highland Street, Smith said, and the teen then got out of the car and took off.

"The 17-year-old led police on a foot pursuit through several backyards. He was eventually arrested, hiding in bushes on Winchester Avenue," Smith said.

The teen is allegedly responsible for both the Blake Road and Augur Street burglaries, according to police. He was charged with two counts of first-degree burglary, two counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree burglary,, second-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit second-degree larceny, sixth-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit sixth-degree larceny and interfering with a police officer.

The teen is currently being held at the Whalley Avenue Detention Center and is scheduled to appear in Juvenile Court on May 31.  

The investigation into the burglaries and break-ins is continuing, Smith said.