HARTFORD, CT (WFSB) -
Two teenagers who police said are responsible for a half dozen car break-ins in West Hartford were arraigned Wednesday.
Police said Christopher Franco and Angel Rodriguez, both are 19, were arrested just before 2 a.m. Tuesday in the area of Farmington Avenue and Ardmore Road. Officers said the two men were acting suspiciously and when they approached them, Franco and Rodriguez ran away.
"I heard someone shrieking bloody murder," said Andrew Davis, who lives in the neighborhood. "He was getting tased, I guess."
Officers found the teens in possession of backpacks, and they were filled with loose change, credit cards and other items stolen from unlocked cars in the area. Another backpack filled with stolen goods was found later Tuesday morning.
Police have not been able to tie the two teenagers to all of the more than 60 cars in West Hartford over the past 10 days.
Franco and Rodriguez, who live on Girard Street, admitted to walking over to the Fern Street area and admitted to breaking into six cars.
"It might be reasonable to assume that they were the ones that did the other ones," Davis said. "I'm not sure about that though."
Patrols have been increased in the area after a dramatic increase in car burglaries in the past week. And police believe the increased patrols lead to the arrest.
All of the crimes happened during overnight hours and most involved unlocked vehicles, police said.
Police are expected to charge Franco and Rodriguez with more crimes.
Franco was recently released from prison after serving a one-year term for third-degree larceny. Rodriguez has no criminal history.
West Hartford police are also talking with neighboring departments such as Newington and New Britain about car break-ins in their towns to determine if Franco and Rodriguez played a role in their burglaries.
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