BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT — Early Thursday morning, August 31, police arrested a man from Bridgeport and a woman from New Haven who were allegedly trying to steal $731 worth of roofing shingles from a local roofing company.
Authorities later discovered the Hyundai Elantra the pair were driving had been stolen in Bridgeport earlier in the week, police reported.
A third suspect involved in the attempted burglary managed to evade arrest.
Jose A. Velasco of Bridgeport and Stacey Velez of New Haven have been charged with motor vehicle theft, fifth-degree larceny, and second-degree criminal trespass. Velasco faces an additional charge of interfering with an officer, according to police.
Velasco’s bail was set at $10,000, while Velez was released with a promise to appear in court.
The incident began shortly before 3 a.m. when officers were called to Beacon Roofing Supply on Commerce Drive after a burglary alarm was triggered, Lt. Jonathan A. Duharte stated in a press release.
The alarm company informed police that video surveillance had captured three suspects, two men and one woman, attempting to steal items by passing them over the fence.
When officers arrived, they saw the suspects loading the stolen goods into the back seat of a Hyundai Elantra. Upon seeing the police, the suspects tried to flee on foot, but Velasco and Velez were caught. The third suspect managed to escape.
Inside the stolen vehicle, police found 17 bundles of roofing shingles, valued at $731, which were returned to the roofing company.
Lt. Duharte also noted that this business had been targeted in several burglaries over the past few months.
