Man Faces Charges He Tried to Steal Car in Downtown Greenwich

A man was in Greenwich Police custody after he was reportedly chased by the owner of a car who reported the man was trying to steal his car that was parked at the YMCA Greenwich parking lot.

The car owner spotted the man about 5 p.m. March 20 in the YMCA parking lot at the corner of East Putnam and Washington avenues. The suspect reportedly stole the car keys from a locker at the Y. While calling Greenwich Police, the car owner chased the man into the nearby Whole Foods store, according to a police report. Police found "the suspect attempting to blend in with store patrons," according to the report.

Police arrested Ronald J. Garafalo, 59, of Patterson, NJ, on charges of third-degree burglary, criminal attempt at first-degree larceny, first-degree criminal trespass and sixth-degree larceny. 

Police say Garafalo has been convicted of numerous burglaries and larcenies following a similar pattern in both New Jersey and New York. "Garafalo matches the description of previously reported suspicious person skulking around throughout the central business district. We have good information that he has been using mass transportation to travel to and from Greenwich and other communities," police said.

If anyone has any information or recognizes Garafalo from a similar incident please contact the Greenwich Police Tip Line at (203) 622-3333 or (800) 372-1176 or email TIPS@greenwichct.org. 

According to the Connecticut Judicial Branch website, Garafalo is being held in lieu of $100,000 bond and is scheduled to appear April 17 in state Superior Court in Stamford.