Police Interrupt Burglary At Norwalk Smoke Shop, 3 Arrested: PD

NORWALK, CT — Officers interrupted a burglary in progress at a Norwalk smoke shop early Thursday morning after an employee hiding in the store reported the incident, according to police.

In a news release, Police Lt. Tomasz Podgorski said the department received a report of a suspicious person in the area of Van Tassell Court near R&R Smoke Shop on Main Avenue around 2:30 a.m.

Police also received a second call from an unknown person whispering into the phone, Podgorski said.

According to Podgorski, dispatchers were unable to hear the caller but were able to pinpoint their location to the Main Avenue smoke shop.

When officers arrived at the store they found broken glass and three men inside. The men fled from the business on foot and officers chased after them, Podgorski said.

Officers ultimately arrested two of the men, as well as a woman who was hiding in a parked car near the store, Podgorski said. Police were not able to locate the third man.

Officers also found one of the callers who reported the incident was an employee of the store who hid in a beverage cooler after the men broke the store's window. The employee was not hurt, according to Podgorski.

Ronin LaCourt, 18, of Norwalk, was charged with third-degree burglary, conspiracy to commit third-degree burglary, first-degree criminal mischief, interfering with an officer and sixth-degree larceny.

Caleb Martias, 20, of Bronx, N.Y., was charged with third-degree burglary, conspiracy to commit third-degree burglary and conspiracy to commit first-degree criminal mischief.

Faith Cintron, 23, of Framingham, Mass., was charged with conspiracy to commit third-degree burglary, theft of plate and conspiracy to commit first-degree criminal mischief.

All three received a bond of $150,000 and are each scheduled to appear in court next month, according to Podgorski.