OXFORD, Conn — Three suspects were taken into custody Thursday following an investigation into a viral larceny at a grocery store in Oxford last month, state police said. A fourth suspect is still at large, but authorities are closing in.
The video, which has been shared thousands of times on social media, captured a group fleeing Market 32 on Main Street around 6:30 a.m. after loading up vehicles with items they never paid for.
Two awaiting vehicles were parked in the fire lane, according to police. The group is accused of stealing $1,600 worth of items such as detergent and paper towels.
"This investigation was very fast moving," Trooper John Acampora, Resident State Trooper for Oxford said. "To solve a case like this in a matter of about a month is astounding."
But, it could’ve been much quicker if people, who watched the shoplifting happen, simply called police at that point.
"It is my belief in reviewing this case that this was a result of everyone probably believing someone else called 911 when in fact no one did," Acampora said.
Arrest warrants were issued for three suspects identified by investigators.
James Hill (44), Nasif Muhammad (51), and Brandy Quadrato (36), all of New Haven, were each charged with larceny and conspiracy to commit larceny, according to CSP.
Hill posted the court-set $50,000 bond and is scheduled to appear at Derby Superior Court on December 6. He currently has 22 open cases in various courts, according to officials.
"Most of it is of similar charges. The ones we charged him with, however, most are non-violent... they’re mostly property crimes," Acampora said.
People who recognized Quadrato in the viral video is what got the ball rolling for police, official said.
"We had our sights set on our suspects that we had arrested for probably about a week after the initial incident occurred," the trooper added.
Quadrato Muhammad were actually in custody on unrelated arrests by the time state police had the arrest warrants.
"They were presented before Derby Superior Court," Acampora said. "Quadrato was presented today. Nasif Mohammad was presented yesterday and we made our arrests at court."
State Police say each of the individuals involved had taken part in other similar heists across the state recently.
The investigation is still active and ongoing.
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