When a woman at 78 Holmes Ave. heard noises outside just before 11:30 p.m., Saturday, she looked out her bedroom window and saw a man in the front seat of her gray 2011 Lexus RX.
She yelled out her window, telling the man she was going to call police, and then she did. Despite the warning, the man was arrested.
Arrest photo of Christopher Gandini, 19, of 324 West Ave., Darien
Darien police described what happened with this account (including accusations not proven in court):
The woman gave police a description of the man — white, wearing all black clothing.
Police checked the area and spotted a an later identified as Christopher Gandini, 19, who matched the description. He was behind his own house at 324 West Ave. (four tenths of a mile away from 78 Holmes Ave., according to Google Maps). The rear of the house, which sits on the corner of Joseph Street and West Avenue, is easily seen from Joseph Street.
Police asked Gandini several times to show his hands, but he ddn’t. He was immediately detained and put in handcuffs. On him, police found a plastic Ziploc-type clear plastic bag holding loose change.
Gandini was questioned and eventually admitted that he took change from one vehicle on Holmes Avenue. He said he took only about 50 cents from inside the vehicle, and the rest of the change was his. When they counted the money in the bag, it came to $15.73.
The victim’s blue 2007 Toyota Highlander had also been entered, and vehicles parked at 74 and 72 Holmes Avenue had also been entered, with contents of the glove boxes or center consoles (or both) strewn on the front seats. The owners at the other two addresses told police that it didn’t look like anything was missing.
Gandini was arrested on a charge of sixth-degree larceny, and four counts of third-degree burglary. At 10 a.m. the next morning, Sunday, he was released after posting $1,500 bond. He is scheduled to appear April 4 in state Superior Court in Stamford.