Middletown police arrested three people suspected of breaking into cars at a public housing complex on Broad Street in Middletown early Saturday morning and one of them claimed to be a mechanic who was just out for a walk, police said.
Police responded to Sbona Towers, at 40 Broad Street, around 3:40 a.m. on Saturday to investigate reports of car break-ins and found two men walking away from parked cars, police said.
As police investigated, they noticed damage to two vehicles, including a shattered window and a popped out door lock. They also found a screwdriver next to one of the damaged cars.
A witness also told police that one of the vehicles was started during the incident.
Police identified Luis Villega-Medina, 32, of Waterbury, Esquiel Villegas, 19, of Middletown, and Miguel Romero, 37, of Waterbury, as the suspects.
Police said they found Villegas in a green Honda that had been stolen out of Danbury. His seat was all the way back and he appeared to be hiding from police.
He told police that he drove the other suspects and knew they were going to be stealing cars, according to police.
Villegas also admitted that the Honda was stolen, but denied stealing it, police said.
He was charged with conspiracy to commit larceny in the third degree, conspiracy to commit larceny in the sixth degree, two counts of conspiracy to commit criminal mischief and third-degree larceny. He was held on a $150,000 surety bond and is due in court on Monday.
Villega-Medina was charged with criminal attempt to commit larceny in the third degree, criminal attempt to commit larceny in the sixth degree, two counts of third-degree criminal mischief, possession of burglary tools and third-degree larceny.
He was held on a $150,000 surety bond and is due in court today.
Police said Romero pretended to speak in his cell phone when police spotted him. When officers detained him, they found two screwdrivers in his pants’ pockets, police said, and he claimed he was a mechanic who had just gotten a new job and was just out taking a walk.
He then gave police a fake name and incorrect birth dates, but police were able to identify him, according to the arraignment report.
Romero was charged with criminal attempt to commit third-degree larceny, criminal attempt to commit sixth-degree larceny, two counts of third-degree criminal mischief, possession of burglary tools, third-degree larceny and criminal impersonation.
Bond was set at $150,000 and he is due in court on Monday.
