Car Reported Stolen in West Hartford Used in Vernon Robberies

Three Hartford residents are facing numerous charges after Vernon police broke up an attempted vehicular burglary on Vinetta Drive early Thursday morning, a news release indicates.

Police said that at 2:17 a.m., am emergency call came in from a Vinetta Drive resident indicating he woke up to the noise of his garage door opening.

The resident said someone was attempting to enter the home and after he climbed out of bed to investigate, he noticed a vehicle speeding away from the house and onto Merline Road, according to a news release.

The vehicle used in the attempted burglary, a 2007 Volkswagen Jetta, had been reported stolen in West Hartford and also reported that several car burglaries were being investigated in the area where the car was taken, a news release states.

Police said the vehicle was quickly located in front of 211 Merline Rd., but the driver would not stop for the police cruiser, which had its lights on. The driver then attempted to reverse his direction, but an officer pulled a cruiser to the side of the road, and struck the vehicle in an effort to block the escape route, a news release states. Both vehicles sustained minor damage at the front bumper area, police said.

The driver exited the vehicle and fled on foot, heading north on Merline Road, but another officer chased him down, police said. Police identified the driver as Tyrell Boo Hightower of Hartford.

A front-seat passenger also attempted to flee, but the officer who initially blocked the vehicle was able to close the car door and hold it shut, police said. He and a second passenger were taken into custody, joining the driver, police said.

An investigation at Vinetta Drive determined that the vehicles at the home had been burglarized, police said. The suspects used a door opener taken from a car outside to open the garage door, police said. Police determined the motive was not home invasion. 

Vernon police said they searched the suspect vehicle several times and recovered GPS units, keys, sunglasses, cell phones, various chargers, and loose change. Police said the GPS units led them to areas of Vernon where there had been suspected car burglaries.

Police said they are investigating a dozen car burglaries near Merline Road, Vinetta Drive, Sunset Terrace, and Pleasant View Drive.

Police said they are still trying to locate the owners of several GPS units.

Police identified the suspects as:

• Efrain Quinones, 20, of 103 Lincoln St., Hartford.

• Tyrell Boo Hightower, 21, of 67 Newbury St., Hartford.

• A 17-year-old male from Hartford who is considered a youthful offender.

All three were charged with:

• Four counts of third-degree burglary.

• First-degree burglary.

• Motor Vehicle Larceny.

• Interfering with an officer. 

• Breach of Peace.

• Sixth-degree larceny.

Quinones and Hightower appeared in Rockville Superior Court on Thursday are are due to return on April 4, police said. Quinones is being held on a pair of $25,000 bonds and Hightower was being held on two $50,000 bonds, a clerk at the court said.

Vernon police are telling residents to lock their vehicles because vehicular burglaries increase with the warmer weather. Police said anyone who is missing property or thinks a vehicle may have been betoken into should call 860-872-9126, ext. 226. 

More charges could be levied in a joint investigation involving several police departments, police said.