Bike Stolen While Teen Was Fishing In Stafford Returned, Charges Filed

STAFFORD, CT — A bicycle stolen while its young owner was fishing in Stafford was not only returned, but the teen who is accused of taking it is now facing a criminal charge, state police said.

State police releases details of the incident this week following a warrant service on Friday.

According to a warrant, just after 2 p.m. on Sep. 26, a "juvenile" was fishing near the Spring Street Bridge in Downtown Stafford with his bicycle parked nearby. A passerby then approached the youth, asked if the bike were his and then said "a blonde-haired boy in a white T-shirt and black shorts" had taken it, according to a warrant.

The incident had been captured in a municipal surveillance system, according to a warrant. He was eventually identified as a teen from Vernon, according to a warrant.

Meanwhile, a private citizen who knows the Vernon boy noticed a strange bike in the back of a pickup truck and asked him about it, according to a warrant. After an unsatisfactory answer, the citizen took the bike and brought it to the state police Troop C barracks and assisted with the investigation, state police said in a warrant.

The Vernon teen was charged with sixth-degree larceny, records show.