Stolen Guns Found In Vehicle: Greenwich Police

GREENWICH, CT — Police said two adults and three juveniles, all from New Jersey, were arrested early Wednesday morning after two stolen handguns were located in their vehicle.

In a news release, Capt. Mark Zuccerella said a retired Greenwich police officer employed by a private community in town contacted the department around 1 a.m. to report an unauthorized vehicle entering the gated community. The retired officer also reported the vehicles' driver and passengers were entering driveways within the community, Zuccerella said.

Officers responded to the area and located the vehicle, a 2014 Dodge Challenger occupied by two adults and three juveniles, parked within the gated community. (To sign up for Greenwich breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

"An investigation determined that the subjects had traveled to Greenwich from New Jersey with the intent to steal valuables from unlocked cars," Zuccerella said in a news release.

Officers later searched the vehicle and located two handguns with high capacity magazines and ammunition, as well as narcotics and marijuana, Zuccerella said. Officers determined the guns were stolen and the serial numbers were scratched off, according to Zuccerella.

The driver of the vehicle, 23-year-old Isiah Clinton of Newark, N.J., was charged with criminal attempt at third-degree burglary, conspiracy to commit third-degree burglary, fifth-degree larceny, third-degree criminal trespass, stealing a firearm, risk of injury to a child, illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle, illegal alteration of a firearm serial number and illegal possession of a high capacity magazine, as well as narcotics possession charges.

The second adult, 40-year-old Altariq Williams of Newark, N.J., was charged with criminal attempt at third-degree burglary, conspiracy to commit third-degree burglary, third-degree criminal trespass and risk of injury to a child, as well as narcotics and marijuana possession charges.

The three juveniles, two of which are 15 years old and one of which is 16, were charged with criminal attempt at third-degree burglary and simple trespass. The 16-year-old was also charged with conspiracy to commit third-degree burglary.

According to Zuccerella, the department has seen an increase over the past year of people entering Greenwich during "the midnight hours" to steal unlocked vehicles or items from them.

"On an almost daily occurrence, the midnight officers disrupt this criminal activity," Zuccerella said. "The officers on duty have been successful in arresting some of the criminal actors. On other occasions, the thieves leave the town of Greenwich after the officers interrupt their activity. The officers' duty is made more difficult when residents do not properly secure their property."

The department urges residents to remove keys from their vehicle, as well as any valuables, and to lock their vehicle's doors.

"This will make the thefts more difficult," Zuccerella said, "which, in turn, will slow the influx of these criminals from our community."

Residents can report any suspicious activity to the department at 203-622-8004, as well as 911.