Alderman Catches Thief in Home

A New Haven Alderman has a new perspective on crime after falling victim himself. Michael Smart caught a burglar in the act inside his Wooster Square home over the weekend.

"I noticed that my side gate was open and as I approached I noticed the window was open and the blinds were blowing. From there I heard some noise so I knew someone was in my house," Smart said Monday.

Smart stayed outside, waiting to confront the man just feet away, was stealing from him in his home. He called police, paced between his front and back door and waited some more. "He came out on my deck, my daughter had a bunch of change in a water jug. He got startled and then dropped it on the ground," Smart recalled of the encounter.

The burglar then took off toward Jefferson Street and without a second thought, Smart took off after him. "Just before Jefferson Street he pointed the gun at me and said he was going to shoot me. So I started to get to the corner of Grand and Jefferson then he stopped and turned around and said I'll kill you, so by that time I really backed off."

He eventually lost sight of the man but spotted police at around the same time. "I jumped in the car and we caught him about a couple blocks up on St. John's Street."

Police recovered Smart's city-issued laptop, jewelry, a camera and more from the suspect's backpacks. They also found a notice to appear in court for another arrest.

Smart wasn’t hurt during the chase but says he doesn’t recommend anyone follow in his footsteps. He admits his adrenaline got the most of him Saturday. "I have young kids. You start to think 'what if your kids are home'. You’re totally violated."

Smart’s 15 and 17 year old daughters weren’t home at the time of the burglary.

New Haven police say the man arrested for burglarizing Smart’s home may be behind a number of other burglaries in the Wooster Square neighborhood.

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