Police arrested two suspected car thieves after they called police to report the victim was harassing them to get his car back.
A recent University of New Haven graduate went to West Haven police on Tuesday night to report that his 2005 Mustang Saleen had been stolen, police said.
The student, who had just obtained a degree from graduate school, told police that he decided to sell his car before returning to his native country, police said, and met with two prospective buyers, Travis Breda and Stephen Verity, just before 11 p.m. on Tuesday.
He allowed them to take a test drive and followed behind, police said, but Breda and Verity fled.
The owner called the two men over and over again to ask them to return the car, then went to police to report the theft.
As police were speaking to the victim, Breda and Verity called police to report that the victim was harassing him with the repeated calls, police said.
They told authorities that they’d bought the car for $9,500.00.
However, the estimated value of the car is between $21,000 and $26,000, police said.
Police contacted Breda, who eventually came into police headquarters and presented a signed bill of sale and title, but the complainant’s name was misspelled and the signatures didn't match, according to police.
When officers confronted Breda, he eventually admitted he and Verity tried to steal the car and one of the signatures was forged, police said.
Police contacted Verity, who eventually drove the Mustang to the police station, but tried to walk away after parking it.
He was quickly taken into custody.
Breda and Verity were charged with second-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit larceny in the second degree.
Verity was also charged with second-degree forgery and interfering.
