Police find 2 suspects in Carmax vehicle thefts
Two men from New Britain are facing charges after police said they stole two vehicles from a Carmax parking lot.
On Tuesday, around 4:11 a.m. officers were dispatched to Carmax at 121 West Frontage Road in East Haven for a burglary in progress. Arriving officers determined that several individuals entered the Carmax property in a grey Volkswagen Tiguan. The suspects used a vehicle on the property to ram the gate and steal two vehicles from the Carmax lot, police said in a press release.
The suspects stole a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee and a 2018 Chevy Silverado, according to police.
Shortly after the burglary, around 5:41 a.m., investigators with East Haven police set up surveillance to execute a search warrant at 125 Pleasant St. in New Britain.
Detective Jon Trinh, who led the investigation, suspected a resident of that address as being responsible for committing numerous burglaries and car thefts throughout the state.
While conducting surveillance on the house in New Britain, investigators observed a Volkswagen Tiguan pull into the residence along with several other vehicles. Investigators also observed numerous individuals enter the Volkswagen and depart from the residence.
At 5:41 a.m. officers conducting surveillance of the residence observed the stolen Chevy Silverado
entering the driveway and three individuals exiting the vehicle. Once the stolen vehicle was positively identified, police moved in to make an arrest. After a brief foot pursuit, Eric Ruiz, 27, and Alex Sierra, 32, of New Britain were arrested.
Ruiz was also in possession of a 9mm Glock handgun which was later determined to be stolen out of Tampa, Fla. in 2021.
The identity of the third suspect has been confirmed by police but has not been made public as charges are still pending.
Ruiz was arrested and charged with third-degree burglary, third-degree conspiracy to commit burglary, first-degree criminal mischief, first-degree conspiracy to commit criminal mischief, first-degree conspiracy to commit criminal trover, two counts of larceny of a motor vehicle, two counts of conspiracy to commit larceny of a motor vehicle, possession of burglary tools, second-degree criminal trespass, interfering with a police officer, carrying a pistol without a permit, theft of a firearm, and criminal possession of a firearm. Ruiz is being held on a $250,000 bond.
Ruiz also had several active arrest warrants with a total bond of $300,000 and an arrest warrant out of Newtown for $20,000. Ruiz is scheduled to appear Wednesday in New Haven Superior Court.
Sierra was arrested and charged with interfering with a police officer and larceny of a motor vehicle. He is being held on a $100,000 bond and is scheduled to appear Wednesday in New Haven Superior Court.