Police: Car pursued in Byram later stopped in Westchester County

GREENWICH — Officers were engaged in another vehicle chase this week, one of a handful of pursuits involving stolen cars that have kept the Greenwich Police Department busy in recent months.

The latest pursuit involved a stolen Honda that entered the Byram section of town from Mill Street around 8:15 a.m. Wednesday,

according to police Lt. Mark Zuccerella. Officers engaged in a brief pursuit before breaking off the chase, out of safety concerns, he said.

The stolen Honda and its driver was later apprehended in northern Westchester County, N.Y., Zuccerella said. The driver was apprehended after a pursuit by law enforcement authorities in the area of Somers, N.Y. No more information was available on that case.

In addition, three teens were caught in a stolen car in Rowayton early Friday, according to Norwalk police. A 17-year-old from Bridgeport, as well as a 17-year-old and a 15-yearold from Norwalk, were found “standing around” a Jeep Cherokee on Pine Point Road around 5 a.m. Friday. The car had been stolen from Greenwich overnight, according to

Norwalk police spokesperson Lt. Jared Zwickler.

Greenwich police have been involved in other investigations with stolen cars recently.

Last weekend, an Alfa Romeo stolen from the Belle Haven neighborhood was involved in a chase with New York State troopers along the border of New York and Connecticut. Gunfire was directed at the troopers, and a shell casing

was found near Interstate 95’s Exit 2 on the Delavan Avenue ramp, police said. The car was later recovered in Stratford.

Zuccerella noted that law enforcement is facing a number of challenges in minimizing the number of stolen cars and pursuits. Many of the thieves involved in the thefts are juveniles, under the age of 18, he said.

“The legislators have changed the laws in Connecticut that makes the prosecution of these suspects difficult . ... If caught, they are returned home. The likelihood of them being held accountable, due to the changes in juvenile

law, is minimal.” he said.

In addition, police officers are discouraged from pursuing stolen cars “unless there is an overriding threat to safety, or the vehicle occupants committed an act of violence,” he said.

Property crimes alone do not necessitate police to initiate a pursuit.

More than 50 cars have been stolen from Greenwich this year. Police have been urging car owners for years to take simple steps — locking cars and taking out starting devices — to prevent thefts and other crimes.