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Footprints in snow leads police to suspected burglars

Posted at 8:51 PM, Dec 19, 2013
and last updated 2013-12-19 20:51:25-05

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Two men were arrested on Tuesday after they were seen carrying a large bag full of electronics stolen from a Bainbridge Road residence, police said.

The alleged thieves were first noticed by a resident who called police to report three strange men walking in her neighborhood carrying a large bag.

A patrol officer observed the same men walking about an hour later and approached them. All three men immediately fled on foot, heading eastbound into Hartford, police said.

Police were able to follow footprints in the snow to the bag, which was abandoned by the suspects next to a building on Park Street. Inside the bag police found several computers and other electronic items that had been stolen from a residence on Bainbridge Road earlier in the day.

The officers continued to follow the footprints and were able to apprehend Jose Ofray, 20, and Michael Ortega, 22, both of Hartford.

Both men were charged with third-degree burglary, third-degree larceny, interfering with police and conspiracy, police said.

Police are still working to identify the third suspect.

Ofray and Ortega were each held with bail set at $50,000. They were scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday.

The West Hartford neighborhood where the suspects were seen has had numerous residential burglaries reported in the past several months and residents were advised to contact police if they noticed anything out of the ordinary, police said.