It took about 21 seconds for a burglar to break into and steal from the BP gas station at 1358 Post Road early on Sunday, as the surveillance video (below) shows, but it only took minutes more for police to spot the 18-year-old burglar and arrest him, Darien police said.
Alex Nelson, 18, of Turnberry Road, West Des Moines, Iowa, was charged with burglary and larceny on Sunday, July 24 (Darien Police arrest photo)
A police news release Sunday afternoon gave this account of the 2 a.m. burglary and arrest:
On July 24, 2016 at approximately 2 a.m. the Darien Police Department received a burglar alarm coming from the BP Station located at 1358 Post Road.
Within two minutes, an officer arrived on scene and observed that a glass door had been smashed out and the establishment had been burglarized. This information was then given to other officers who began searching the area for a suspect.
In the next few minutes, an officer observed a male subject running eastbound on the Post Road near Ledge Road while carrying a backpack. The subject was detained and identified as Alex Nelson, age 18, of […] Turnberry Road, West Des Moines, Iowa.
It was quickly determined that Nelson had just committed the burglary and he was placed under arrest.
During the search of Nelson’s backpack, six cartons of cigarettes were discovered and later confirmed as being stolen from the BP [gas] station. He also was in possession of a black and grey knit hat and black gloves.
Detectives arrived to process the scene and recovered video surveillance showing Nelson smashing the door, entering the store area of the BP Station, and removing the cartons of cigarettes.
_________
Like this article? …
- Sign up for the Darienite.com weekday newsletter.
- Like Darienite.com on Facebook.
- Follow Darienite.com on Twitter.
_________
Nelson was wearing the knit hat and the gloves when he committed the burglary. It was also determined that Nelson has no ties to the Connecticut area and was on his way to Canada to live. Nelson claimed that he had run out of money and committed the burglary in order to sell the cigarettes to buy food.
Nelson was charged with the following:
- burglary, 3rd degree
- larceny, 5th degree
Nelson was issued a $10,000 bond and currently remains in the custody of the Darien Police Department. He is scheduled to appear in Stamford Superior Court on Aug. 4.