Crime & Safety

Social Media to the Rescue in Middlebury Thefts

Local police are considering new tools to help enforce the law.

Social media has demonstrated its usefulness in law enforcement after the Middlebury Police Department successfully identified a potential suspect in a rash of recent thefts from cars using an unnamed social media network.

Middlebury police officers spent the better part of a day following up on leads before a suspect was identified using social media, according to a press release.

"Middlebury Police at this time doesn't use Social Media, however the Middlebury Police will explore it in the future," the release said.

The suspect was identified with the assistance of nearby Naugatuck Police who discovered the lead on a social media site, police said.

Middlebury Police are working with departments in surrounding communities including Southbury, Wolcott, Waterbury, and Prospect and the are "confident that arrests can be made in several of these cases," according to the release.

At least one search warrant was executed last Friday in connection to the case, police said.

The recent thefts from unlocked vehicles remains under investigation.


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