Crime & Safety

Pair Arrested for Greenwich Home Invasion

Police: surveillance cameras captured suspects in the act.

Two men – described by Greenwich Police as career criminals - have been arrested on charges they broke into a Buena Vista Drive home last weekend and verbally confronted the homeowner.

One of the men also has been charged in connection with a string of car burglaries dating back to the summer of 2009, Greenwich Police spokesman Lt. Kraig Gray said.

Gray said that investigators were able to obtain arrest warrants for the pair after they were identified from images police took from home surveillance equipment that recorded the June 18 break-in of the Buena Vista Drive home.

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“It was instrumental in tying everything together,” Gray said of the surveillance images. “They are burglars with a long history,” Gray added.

Gray said that the pair apparently broke a front door glass pane around 10 p.m. June 18, which set off an alarm system, awakening the male homeowner and his 4-year-old son. There was a verbal confrontation between the homeowner, who was standing atop a staircase, and the intruders, Gray also said. The resident called 911 and when officers arrived, the pair had fled the home empty-handed.

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Based upon the images police found on the home surveillance camera, investigators obtained arrest warrants for Thomas Haywood, 48, of 33 Lincoln Ave., New Rochelle, NY, and Wicky Guy Austin McGhee, 46, whose last known address was 218 Norman St., Bridgeport. Each faces charges of home invasion and 1st-degree criminal mischief, both felonies, and a misdemeanor charge of possession of burglar tools.

Gray said that Greenwich Police worked with area agencies to apprehend Haywood and McGhee. Haywood was arrested Tuesday afternoon by Harrison, NY police after they saw him get into a car, knowing that he had a suspended license. Harrison officers charged him with motor vehicle violations as well as a fugitive from justice, based upon the Greenwich charges, police said. Haywood did not waive extradition to Connecticut and is being held at the Valhalla Correctional Facility in Valhalla, NY, following his arraignment on Wednesday.

About 6 p.m. Tuesday, Greenwich and Stamford police arrested McGhee whom they found in an unidentified home on Stamford’s West Side.

In addition to the home invasion charges, McGhee also faces 11 counts of 3rd-degree burglary and one count of 4th degree larceny, stemming from a series of car burglaries in the Byram area of Greenwich during the summer of 2009, Gray said.

McGhee was held in lieu of  $250,000 bond and was to be arraigned later Thursday in state Superior Court in Stamford.

Police are investigating a string of recent car burglaries in the Byram and whether there is any connection with the suspects.

“Both arrested subjects are suspects in numerous other crimes within lower Fairfield County and Westchester County New York. Investigations are ongoing,” Greenwich Police said.

Editor's note: this story corrected with updated information from Greenwich Police reflect Haywood's age and court status, and to correct spelling of McGhee's last name.


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