[UPDATE] Men Identified in Botched Larceny Attempt in Southbury

UPDATE [2:30 p.m.] Police have identified two men who attempted to steal scrap metal from Classic Coach shortly before 7 a.m. Thursday.

One man, John Polakowski, 20, of Waterbury, has been taken into custody. The other man, Wayne Conroy, 43, of Naugatuck, is still being sought by police.

According to state police, a Seymour K9 Officer responded to the scene and tracked from the driver’s seat of the suspect’s pickup truck to the Oxford water pump station house, where Polakowski was found hiding.  He was taken into custody without incident.

Additional State Police K9 Troopers responded to set up additional tracks and searched a large, heavily wooded area for the second suspect without success. 

After a brief investigation police were able to reveal the identification of the second suspect in this larceny, Conroy, who fled from the suspect vehicle. Conroy has multiple active warrants on file for his arrest. 

Polakowski was immediately processed and charged with larceny, interfering with police and numerous motor vehicle violations. He is being held on bond, and was transported to Waterbury Superior Court for arraignment. 

The investigation is ongoing, according to state police.

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[ORIGINAL STORY] One man is in custody and police are searching for another after a robbery was interrupted at a Southbury business Thursday morning.

According to Resident Trooper Sgt. Dan Semosky, two men fled from Classic Coach, 1319 Southford Rd. in Southbury, after an attempted robbery and headed down Rt. 67 towards Oxford.

According to Classic Coach employee Slade Mongelli, the two men were attempting to steal scrap metal and were discovered by an employee. The two men then sped away in their vehicle.

The vehicle used in the attempted robbery was later dumped at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, 25 Great Hill Rd. in Oxford.

A perimeter has been set up in along Rt. 67 in Oxford near Fritz’s Snack Bar, 72 Oxford Rd., according to Semosky.

Approximately 15 officers from Southbury, Oxford and Seymour, and three dogs are currently searching a swamp area behind Fritz’s.

Oxford Patch Editor Paul Singley contributed to this report.