(Bridgeport, CT – Sept. 26, 2013) – An 18-year-old man faces charges after a neighbor reported a burglary-in-progress on Cleveland Avenue Wednesday.
Officers Scott Waehler and Luis Moura were sent to the location at 4:16 a.m. after a neighbor reported a man in dark clothing lurking around a neighboring house with a flashlight.
Officers encountered the suspect, later identified as Rafael Vasquez, who took off running. Police briefly lost sight of him but, while checking back yards , found him hiding under a deck. He was pulled from under the deck and handcuffed.
A pat down revealed a debit card and Canon camera. Vasquez denied knowledge of the debit card but claimed the camera was his. When questioned, however, he was unable to describe the camera or what pictures might be on it. Police also seized a black flashlight and gloves.
The suspect later stated that he was homeless and was living inside a car in a detached garage at the house on Cleveland Avenue.
Police followed up there and recovered items inside the car, including a laptop computer and identification of a University of Bridgeport student. Police followed up with her and learned that her car had been broken into earlier this month.
Vasquez was charged with fourth-degree larceny, possession of burglary tools, interfering with police, criminal trespass and criminal attempt at second-degree burglary.
