Vernon police have arrested three people accused of breaking into at least 12 cars in Vernon.
A resident of Vinetta Drive called police after burglars broke into a car in the driveway, used the garage door opener to access the garage and burglarized the car parked inside, police said.
The victim woke just after 2 a.m. when he heard his garage door opening, police said. He got out of bed, saw a car speeding away and called 911.
An officer chased the car and hit it when the driver would not stop, police said. Then blocked it and was able to keep the passengers in the car.
However, the driver, who police identified as Tyrell Hightower, 21, of Hartford, fled, police said.
When police checked the registration, they saw it was registered in West Hartford and not to any of the three people who had been in the vehicle. Vernon officers called West Hartford police and learned that the car had been reported stolen and that several cars had been broken into near the house the car was stolen from.
Inside the stolen car, police found several GPS devices, car keys, sunglasses, cell phones, various charges and change, according to a news release from police.
The GPS units led police to other houses in Vernon, where residents had also reported car break-ins, including Merline Road, Vinetta Drive, Sunset Terrace and Pleasant View Drive.
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Police said they are trying to find the owners of several other GPS devices and other property.
Police arrested Hightower, as Efrain Quinones, 20, of Hartford, and a 17-year-old Hartford boy whose name has not been released. They have been charged with several counts of burglary, larceny and other charges.
All three are being held in lieu of $100,000 bond.
Police urge residents to lock their cars because it’s becoming more common for burglars to enter unlocked cars and use garage door openers to get into garages and burglarize homes.
