NORWICH – The Norwich Police Department caught four youths red-handed as they allegedly stole a car right in front of them. The four were apprehended early Thursday morning.
Norwich Police Chief Angelino said officers in civilian clothes were patrolling the area of the third ward in the City of Norwich. The department had recently warned citizens to lock their cars and homes after a number of home burglaries and thefts from vehicles in the city.
Police had assigned plainclothes officers to patrol the victimized streets at night, carrying with them a thermal imaging device that gave officers night vision capabilities.
“This is the epitome of what the Norwich Police are there for, so people can sleep soundly at night knowing officers are watching their community,” said Angelino. “I am very pleased with the efforts the officers put into this.”
Angelino said one of the officers in the surveillance foot patrol observed four youths at a distance as they rummaged through and then stole a parked vehicle.
Just like in other recent incidents, police said the Durango was unlocked and the keys were inside it.
The officer, on foot and unable to pursue the vehicle, called in for marked patrol cars to assist him as he continued to follow the other youths who didn’t leave with the SUV. The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office and New York State Police also responded and helped to take two of the defendants into custody.
Within an hour of the crime, police had all but one suspect in custody at around 1:15 a.m.
Christopher A. Bonno, 20 of 6394 Town Isle Road, Kirkville and Ismiriz Jackson, 17, of 53 Birdsall St., Norwich, were both charged with fourth degree grand larceny, a felony, after they allegedly stole the 1999 Dodge Durango. Police claim Bonno drove off with the vehicle and Jackson was a passenger. Of the four suspects, police have only identified Bonno and Jaskson as being inside the stolen vehicle.
Police charged one 16-year-old youth in connection to the incident after he was allegedly found trespassing a short distance away on Stanford J. Gibson Elementary School property. He is only charged with trespassing, a violation.
The fourth individual taken into police custody has not been charged.
Police said the vehicle was later found just outside the City of Norwich after it was allegedly ditched by the defendants.
While searching for the suspects, a marked patrol car pulled up to two of the youths as they walked down the street causing one, allegedly Jackson, to flee into a nearby wooded area. The other suspect cooperated with police and was later released. As police interviewed him, Bonno approached officers after allegedly parking the stolen vehicle in an area along County Route 23. He was taken into custody and later charged.
The 16-year-old suspect was found cutting across school property and later released.
Jackson was later picked up by police after they say he ran to a relative’s residence.
Police have not yet said if the four defendants were connected to any other recent crimes in the city, but said the investigation is continuing and additional charges may be pending.
Bonno was arraigned in Norwich City Court and remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility in lieu of $5,000 cash bail. Jackson was also arraigned in local court and was released.