WOLCOTT - A string of crimes was concerning a community in Wolcott, so neighbors took to social media to let each other know what was going on.
The Wolcott community keeps in touch on a private Facebook page. That communication and the community working with officers helped the police department make three arrests.
Wolcott Police have been on the lookout for 26-year-old Jack Wilson for a week and a half, and arrested the Waterbury resident on Thursday.
Police said he was driving a tan Oldsmobile with unregistered stolen plates, knocking on doors, then entering yards and stealing items if nobody was home.
After two phone call complaints about Wilson Thursday, police went looking for him. Police said when they found him and approached him in his car, he took off. Wilson eventually went down Pembrook Lane, which is a dead-end street.
According to police, the suspect drove off the road into a wooded area and ran away. He was later reported exiting the woods and walking towards Waterbury, where he was arrested.
In the car, officers found yard tools and an Amazon box with contents taken out of it. It included a new package of detergent and a SanDisk digital card. It was determined that package was stolen off a neighbors porch.
“We learned once we got Jack in his car there was a box from Amazon that had just been delivered to a house on Beach Road,” Chief Edward Stephens said. “He did say how he was following the mailman around.”
Local resident KarlaJean Cilibert said she also called into police about Wilson Thursday because she saw him pull into her driveway and walk around her home.
“I never thought it would happen right in front of my eyes but it did,” she said.
It was because of the community Facebook group that she recognized his car and got his description.
“You have a lot of citizens talking together about their experiences, what happened, we’ll be able to tie everything together so it is very important to communicate like that,” Stephens said.
He was charged with criminal trespass, larceny and interference, as well as numerous motor vehicle charges. Wilson is currently being held at the Wolcott Police Department on a bond.
Police made two more arrests, Thursday.
Over the past month, the Wolcott Police Department has investigated several thefts of landscaping equipment from residential homes, as well as landscaping business trucks.
On Thursday, police arrested Troy Apicella, 25, and Domenic Lanza, 25 on charges related to the thefts.
Police also said they believe Apicella and Lanza are responsible for similar thefts in other towns.
Now, police are asking for the public's help. They need any information on thefts or these two individuals, including tips on if you purchased equipment from them--they may have resold items they stole. If you have information, please call 203-879-8120.
Stephens said he expects to make another arrest in relation to these recent crimes.
