By Richard Kaufman
Thanks to the awareness of a retired Greenwich Police Officer who is employed by a private community in town, five individuals from New Jersey were arrested in Greenwich early Wednesday morning on weapons and drug charges.
At around 1 a.m. on Dec. 2, according to a statement from the Greenwich Police Department, the retired officer contacted the GPD to report that an unauthorized vehicle had entered the private gated community he was surveilling, and that the occupants were observed entering driveways.
Officers responded to the area and located a 2014 Dodge Challenger occupied by two adults and three juveniles, parked upon the private property.
“An investigation determined that the subjects had traveled to Greenwich from New Jersey with the intent to steal valuables from unlocked cars. During the investigation the vehicle was searched and two handguns with high capacity magazines and ammunition were found, along with narcotics and marijuana,” the GPD said in a statement. “The guns were determined to have been stolen and the serial numbers were scratched off.”
The driver was identified as a 23 year old male from Newark, N.J. He faces 17 charges related to illegal firearm possession, drug possession, possession with intent to sell, burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, and risking the injury of a child. His bond was set at $150,000.
The second adult was a 40 year-old also from Newark. He faces 10 similar charges, and his bond was set at $75,000.
The three juveniles — two 15-year-olds and a 16-year-old — were charged with one count each of criminal attempt at burglary in the third degree, and simple trespass. The 16-year-old has an additional charge of conspiracy to commit burglary in the third degree. They were referred to Stamford Superior Court Juvenile Matters.
“The Greenwich Police Department has seen an increase over the past year of subjects coming into Greenwich during the midnight hours looking to steal unlocked vehicles and to commit theft from unlocked vehicles,” the Department said in a statement. “On an almost daily occurrence, the midnight officers disrupt this criminal activity. The officers on duty have been successful in arresting some of the criminal actors. On other occasions the thieves leave the Town of Greenwich after the officers interrupt their activity. The officer’s duty is made more difficult when residents do not properly secure their property.”
The GPD continues to remind residents to remove the keys from their vehicle, remove any valuables, and to lock the vehicle doors.
Any suspicious activity should be reported to 203-622-8004 (24hrs) and all emergencies via 911.
