CROMWELL — Cromwell Police Department officers arrested a Meriden man Monday after customers detained him following a failed car theft attempt outside a local smoke shop.
Police responded to Up in Smoke at 91 Berlin Road at approximately 12:58 p.m. on April 28, where they found Jahil Valle, 21, being held by customers.
According to authorities, Valle entered a customer’s unoccupied vehicle that had been left running and attempted to drive away from the scene.
Valle crashed the vehicle into a sign, at which point the owner ran out of the business and pulled Valle from the vehicle.
Police arrived shortly after the incident and took Valle into custody.
Valle was charged with larceny of a motor vehicle, second-degree criminal trover, and first-degree criminal mischief.
He was released on a $10,000 bond and is scheduled to appear at Middletown Superior Court on May 6.
