Hamden police have arrested a man accused of breaking into two occupied homes as the residents were sleeping, stealing two cars and attempting to burglarize another home in town in March.
One of the victims was a 95-year-old man who was sleeping and woke to a flashlight shining in his window, according to police.
Joseph Duarte, 21, of New Haven, was arrested on Thursday in front of his home at 850 Winchester Avenue in New Haven. Police said he is a suspect in a crime spree that began in Hamden on March 25 and continued to the end of the month.
Duarte is accused of entering a 95-year-old Armory Street resident’s home during the early morning on March 25.
Police said the victim was in bed and woke to a flashlight shining in his second floor bedroom. His residence was ransacked and electronic equipment, money and personal belongings were stolen, police said.
Duarte is also accused of burglarizing another Armory Street home early on the morning of March 28 as the residents were sleeping.
Police said a motor vehicle, electronic equipment and money were stolen.
Duarte is also accused of stealing a car from a Leonard Road resident on March 2 and an attempted burglary at a Mill Rock Road home early on the morning of March 30, police said.
When Duarte was arrested, he was found with 14 bags of crack cocaine and officers seized it, according to police.
Duarte was charged with two counts of first-degree burglary, three counts of first-degree conspiracy to commit burglary, first-degree criminal attempt to commit burglary in the first degree, larceny in the first degree, conspiracy to commit larceny in the first degree, larceny in the second degree, conspiracy to commit larceny in the second degree, larceny in the fourth degree, conspiracy to commit larceny in the fourth degree, possession of narcotics and possession of narcotics with the intent to sell.
Duarte was detained on a total bond of $305,000 and is scheduled to appear in court in Meriden on April 24.
Photo Credit: Hamden Police