Technology in the form of a universal smart key fob aided the theft of a car in New York state, and technology in the form of a license plate reader alerted a police officer who arrested a man and recovered the car in Darien, police said.
Police gave this further account, including accusations not proven in court:
Arrest photo from Darien Police
Kenny Meza-Gomez, 19, of Thierot Avenue in the Bronx was arrested on a charge of larceny of a motor vehicle (first offense).
On Sunday, April 13, at about 5:40 p.m., the officer saw two vehicles entering the Exxon station at 1358 Post Road (between Darien Library and Exit 11 of Interstate 95). The vehicles appeared to be moving in “an aggressive manner,” according to a police news release.
That caught the officer’s attention. What caught it even more was an alert from the license plate reader in the police car. Officers went to the gas station.
There they found multiple people near the two vehicles. When police approached, one man, later identified as Kenny Meza-Gomez, 19, of Thierot Avenue in the Bronx, tried to evade the officers. They apprehended him.
Police found that Meza-Gomez had a universal smart key fob in his possession. The fob is commonly used in auto thefts.
The other vehicle, thought to be a BMW, fled the scene, and police weren’t able to stop it. Police confirmed that the white Infiniti was stolen.
Meza-Gomez was arrested and charged with larceny of a motor vehicle (first offense), a Class E felony with a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $15,000 fine. At Darien Police Headquarters, he posted a $15,000 bond and was given a court date of May 2.