Suspects Involved in Friday’s Car Chase Linked to Previous Crime

There were some familiar names in the police report documenting that followed an attempt to steal a motorcycle on Valley Road. One suspect, Sammy Cruz, 29, of 260 Davenport Ave., New Haven, was also arrested on along with Luis Rafael Serrano, 24, of 312 Davenport Ave.--the brother of Rafael Serrano, who was involved in the incident on April 1.

On March 23, Sergeant David Madoule saw a white Honda Civic idling behind Autac, Inc., a business that is now closed after being damaged by snow this winter. The building, located at 2180 Foxon Road, is fenced off and posted with no trespassing signs due to the collapsed roof.

Madoule ran the plates, identifying the car as belonging to Catherine Pond of 53 Notch Hill Road, whose daughter is said to be Cruz’s girlfriend. After receiving no answer at the Pond household, Madoule approached the building and saw a man, later identified as Cruz, inside. Cruz exited the front of the building, attempting to elude police before he was caught.

On being questioned, Cruz first said he had car trouble and said that Luis Serrano may still be in the building. Upon searching the building, police did not find Serrano, but did discover several boxes of electronics, cables and a TV that were staged to be loaded into the vehicle.

Serrano was soon apprehended by the Regional Water Authority police for trespassing after he was struck by a car and pursued by the driver. Serrano was handcuffed, brought to the scene and questioned, admitting he had been in the building.

The pair was brought to where they were processed and released with a promise to appear on April 6. Both were arrested for third-degree criminal trespass, criminal attempt to sixth-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit sixth-degree larceny.

“But between then and Friday, they decided they needed to steal a motorcycle, too,” said Lieutenant David D’Ancicco. “Logic would dictate that if you did something and were caught you wouldn’t return to same area and try again. The fact that they tried to steal twice and got caught twice is tantamount to the fact that we always get our man.”