Burglar found hiding in recycling bin, city police say

NEW HAVEN — A woman suspected in a Genesee Street burglary was in possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia when she was found hiding in a recycling bin Tuesday afternoon, according to police.

Robetsy Quinones, 25, of New Haven, was charged with third-degree burglary, conspiracy to commit third-degree burglary, first-degree trespassing, interfering with a police investigation, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, Capt. Rose Dell, public information officer for the New Haven Police Department, said Wednesday. Dell did not provide any information about Quinones’ bond amount or court date.

New Haven officers responded to a home on Genesee Street in the city’s Westville neighborhood around 4:45 p.m. Tuesday for a report of a burglary in progress, according to Dell. The homeowner told officers he thought someone was in the loft of his garage since the door was unlocked, Dell said.

Officer David Simpson tried to open the door but found that it was blocked by an object that had been pushed against it, according to Dell. His colleague, Officer Joseph Perrotti, then saw a male suspect jump out of a window before fleeing over a fence into a neighbor’s yard, Dell said. Both officers pursued the suspect, accompanied by K9 Sandler, but ultimately lost him, Dell said.

When the officers returned to the Genesee

Street residence after the pursuit, they obtained permission from the homeowner to force entry into the garage, according to Dell. Entering the garage, the officers saw another male suspect and a female suspect jump out of the window, Dell said.

While the male suspect “made a quick getaway” by scaling a fence to reach the roof of the nearby Best Way Inn, the female suspect, later identified as Quinones, was found hiding in a large blue recycling bin next to another Genesee Street home, according to Dell. She was in possession of cocaine and drug paraphernalia at the time, Dell said.

Detectives believe Quinones may have committed other burglaries in Westville, Dell said.