(Bridgeport, CT — Sept. 7, 2013) — Dripped motor oil from a stole automobile engine led detectives directly to a suspected burglar last week.
Detective Angel Llanos arrested Emmanuel Rios, 24, for first-degree burglary, fifth-degree larceny and criminal mischief. He was freed after posting $5,000 bond.
The recovered 2003 Honda Accord engine was returned to the repair shop from which it was stolen.
Police had responded to Nunez Auto Repair on Iranistan Avenue on Aug. 30 on a burglary report. The burglars gained entry through the roof and several items were stolen from the business, including an engine with a blown piston, that was in a storage area.
The repair shop owner’s nephew provided the detective with security footage that showed two males enter the business and later push a wheeled cart, with had what appeared to be the engine on it, across the street and into the courtyard of Marina Village, a housing complex.
The nephew stated that he noticed a fresh trail of engine oil that followed the same route that the video showed the thieves taking.
Llanos and the nephew followed the trail and it led to apartment 106 in building 10. Patrol officers were then stationed at the front and back door while detectives applied for a search warrant.
Police found the stolen engine in the kitchen and subsequently located several engine blocks and a Honda transmission in an upstairs bedroom.
When police questioned Rios, he claimed that he woke up at 6:30 a.m. that day to take his girlfriend to work and saw two Hispanic males with the engine and ran over to ask what they were going to do with it. He stated they offered to sell it to him for $200. Rios, who owns a Honda, insisted that his car was running fine but the deal was too good to pass up. He could not provide police with any other information about the two males from whom he claimed to have purchased the engine.
Rios was then placed under arrest.