Teens Charged With Kidnapping After Car Theft With Child Inside: Stratford PD

STRATFORD, CT — Two Bridgeport teens, a 17-year-old and a 13-year-old, were charged with kidnapping and several other charges after police said they stole a vehicle with a 3-year-old child inside Wednesday afternoon in Stratford.

Police responded around 2:50 p.m. on Jan. 22 to a gas station at Barnum Avenue and Boston Avenue on the report of a vehicle stolen with a 3-year-old girl alone inside of it, according to Stratford Police Capt. Robert Burroughs.

A man called 911 and told police that his 2022 Hyundai was taken from the gas station with his 3-year-old girl still in the vehicle alone in a car seat, according to Burroughs.

Burroughs said a Be On The Lookout broadcast was immediately sent to surrounding police departments.

Stratford Dispatch was soon notified that the 3-year-old girl was dropped off at the Bridgeport Fire Station 10 at 950 Boston Avenue by one of the male suspects from the stolen vehicle, according to Burroughs.

Burroughs said the toddler was reportedly dropped off inside the fire station and the suspects then fled in the stolen vehicle.

“Stratford Detectives, with the assistance of Bridgeport Police and Bridgeport Task Force, were able to track down the locations of the stolen vehicle while traveling on Route 8,” Burroughs wrote in a news release. “The vehicle was then spotted on Route 8 by Bridgeport Task Force, Stratford Detectives and NVI Unit, and the State Police. The suspects then engaged all agencies in a pursuit that resulted in the vehicle crashing as it exited Exit 25 off Route 8. Once the vehicle was at a complete stop, two suspects fled from the vehicle.”

Burroughs said the suspects – a 17-year-old driver and a 13-year-old passenger – were later captured after a foot chase. One suspect was captured immediately after the crash, and the other was later found in the Bridgeport area by Stratford’s NVI Unit, according to Burroughs.

“Thanks to the quick action of the Bridgeport Fire Department Engine 10, the toddler was reunited with her parents and is in good health,” Burroughs wrote.

The 17-year-old boy was arrested and charged with second-degree kidnapping, two counts of risk of injury to child, engaging police in pursuit, operating motor vehicle without license, reckless driving, larceny of motor vehicle – third offense, and first-degree reckless endangerment.

The 13-year-old boy was charged with second-degree kidnapping, two counts of risk of injury to child, and larceny of motor vehicle – third offense.