Waterford police plan to add patrol units during late-evening shifts because of a series of thefts and attempted.
The most recent case happened around 2:30 a.m. on Thursday in the area of Boston Post and Ellen Ward roads when a homeowner noticed four people in his backyard and chased them away, according to police.
The warning comes days after police arrested several people suspected of trying to steal motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles in the Devonshire Drive/Giovanni Drive/Fog Plain/Robin Street area.
The thieves have been striking at night, targeting residences with open sheds and unlocked garages, according to law enforcement.
Residents of Devonshire Drive called police around 1:30 a.m. on Monday to report hearing people in their backyards.
Officers responded and determined that the culprits ran into the woods, so they went in after them.
As police were searching for the burglars, a motorcycle in the woods started up and came at the officers.
The passenger kicked a female officer in the chest, injuring her and causing the bike to crash, police said.
After a brief foot chase, police arrested a 17-year-old and Yojang Torres, 19, of New London.
Torres was charged with criminal trespass in the second degree, assault in the third degree and assault on safety or emergency personnel.
At 2:15 a.m. on Tuesday, police received a call from residents of Robin Street, who heard noises in their back yard and found males in their shed, police said.
After confronting them and attempting to detain them, one of the males struck a woman and they fled.
An off-duty Waterford police officer who heard the commotion came to their aid and detained one of the males, police said.
A Waterford police officer saw a car fleeing the area on Fog Plain Road, and stopped it in the area of the New London High School.
The driver, who police said goes by the street name “Yo Yo,” fled.
The other three males in the car were detained and arrested.
Police arrested Manuel Ortiz, 18, Emanuel Rivera, 19, and Steven Colon, 19, all of New London, and a 17-year-old.
All four were charged with conspiracy to commit crime, criminal trespass in the second degree, burglary in the third degree and criminal mischief in the second degree.
Colon was also charged with assault in the third degree.
Police are asking residents to lock their sheds and trailers and be aware of suspicious activity, but to call police instead of taking matters into your own hands.
Chasing after intruders puts residents at risk and also allows people committing crimes the opportunity to elude law enforcement, police warn.
Waterford Police are trying to identify the man known as “Yo Yo,” including his real name and address.
If you have any information about his name, or where stolen motorcycles or ATVs are located, please contact the Waterford Police on Facebook via direct message, by phone at 860-442-9451, or to the investigating Officer, Officer Surdo at nsurdo@waterfordct.org. All contact will be kept confidential.
Police are also trying to find the owner of a red motorcycle that was stolen on Monday.
If you know who this motorcycle belongs to and ownership can be proven, it will be returned to them.
Police said the car below is the one that "Yo Yo" was driving in.
Photo Credit: Waterford police