Manchester Vehicle Crime Calls Top 70 In Latest 30-Day Span

MANCHESTER, CT — Over a recent 30-day period, Manchester police responded to 76 calls related to either a burglary or theft involving a motor vehicle.

The statistics for the period April 26 through May 26 were released to Patch this week. The total motor vehicle-related burglary calls totaled 51 and calls involving the theft of a motor vehicle were 25.

Several arrests and recoveries have been made, police said. Reports show that police have won some investigations, but are still looking for some of the thieves.

"Officers have been stepping up efforts to address these crimes,"Manchester police spokesman Lt. Ryan Shea said.

Shea added that information-sharing efforts between area departments have allowed police to quickly identify stolen cars.

For example on May 1, a stolen 2017 Nissan Maxima from Wethersfield was seen on Center Street with a Massachusetts plate known not to correspond to the car, police said. After the driver parked it, police were able to surround the Nissan and make two arrests. Maliek Dobson, 20, of Manchester was chased down on foot after be abandoned the car, according to an incident report. He was charged with first-degree larceny and interfering. The passenger, Gloria Ortega, 18, also of Manchester, was charged with criminal liability for first-degree larceny and interfering.

On May 14, officers were able to block in an occupied car at the Motel 6 on the Manchester-Vernon line, police said. The 2020 Jeep Compass was reported stolen out of Hartford and had Rhode Island Plates, according to an incident report. Arrested were two East Hartford residents — the driver, 61-year-old Anthony Johnson, and his 36-year-old passenger, Jennifer Spring, were charged with first-degree larceny and possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal liability for first-degree larceny, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, respectively.

Two days later, officers responded to a car crash at the intersection of Pearl and Spruce streets. A Audi A4 heading east on Pearl Street ran a stop sign and hit another vehicle heading south on Spruce Street, according to an incident report. Witnesses reported seeing four people run from the Audi, which was discovered to be stolen from South Windsor a short time earlier. Manchester and South Windsor police are working together to track the four down, according to an incident report.

Later that morning, citizens reported a gray Ford Explorer being driven erratically near Main and Center streets, police said. While on Main Street, the sport utility vehicle cut off another vehicle near Myrtle Street and then narrowly missed a head-on collision with a police cruiser before speeding away, according to an incident report.

The driver seemed to be trying to bait the police into a chase, the report continued. Police did not pursue the vehicle, which was stolen out of Wethersfield, according to an incident report.

Shea said, as police continue their patrols to combat the rash of car thefts and burglaries, residents should lock their vehicles and not leave valuables in them.

Anyone witnessing an innocent can call Manchester police at 860-645-5500, he said.