Bombalicki Snags Car Thief

The driver of a stolen car sped away. Police Capt. Leo Bombalicki had no idea where the driver had gone. But he had a hunch where he’d return.

Sooner or later, Bombalicki figured, that guy would be cruising Orchard Street.

So he parked his cruiser there. He was in luck. So was a car owner in Woodbridge.

The incident took place late Thursday afternoon.

Around 5 p.m., Bombalicki was standing with Edgewood community activist Eli Greer outside the Norton Street police substation after a community meeting

“We were schmoozing,” Bombalicki said. ​“There were five or six cars going south on Norton Street. This Green Jeep passes them, probably 70 miles an hour, on the right side.”

Bombalicki caught the plate number. He ran it. It came back belonging to a car stolen out of Woodbridge. Bombalicki touched based with Woodbridge and put out a broadcast for New Haven cops to look out for the car.

“I cruised the neighborhood. We couldn’t find it. [So] I decided to sit on Orchard Street. It’s kind of a corridor. It’s the only street in the city that connects the Hill with Newhallville. It’s used very commonly.

“I sat right in front of the old Papa’s fruit [shop]. Lo and behold, here comes the car traveling west on Chapel.

“It was just cruising. I engaged my lights and siren. The vehicle stopped. When I exited the police car. He took off on me.”

Three or four blocks later, the driver lost control of the car and crash. He then took off on foot. Bombalicki and a team of fellow cops searched the neighborhood for him.

In the back yard of a house on Ellsworth Avenue, Bombalicki and Officer Sheree Biros caught up with the man, who’s 19, and arrested him.

“All the officers involved did a great job in the apprehension,” Bombalicki said.

He also said this: ​“Orchard Street is always a good street to put your money on.”