home > news > local

Police Nab Craigslist Car Criminal

Tuesday, Oct 27, 2009 | Updated 5:30 PM EST

Getty Images

New Britain Police have charged a man with using Craigslist to help him steal a car.

Ryan Bowden, 20, responded to an ad on the online classified website for a 2005 BMW for sale. Police say he met the owner at Stanley Quarter Park, took the car for a test drive, and then while inspecting the BMW again, jumped in and took off.

New Britain investigators had an idea about Bowden's identity because Farmington Police were looking at him for a similar crime.

Officers there say Bowden met a car seller at Westfarms Mall on Sept. 14 and sped away with an Audi after the owner had gotten out.

Police in that case say Bowden made the mistake of leaving papers with his name and his credit card in the car when he dumped it on a Hartford street.

New Britain Police charged Bowden with the theft in their city on Friday. He's being held on $100,000 bond.