Accused Car Thief Caught in Store

A Massachusetts man, previously charged with car theft in South Windsor, Connecticut, returned to the area on May 13, 2026, and was arrested after hiding inside a local store to evade police. South Windsor police initiated a stolen vehicle investigation that morning, spotting the suspect driving a reported stolen car near the town's commercial district. Officers attempted a traffic stop around 11 a.m., but the driver fled, leading to a brief pursuit that ended when he abandoned the vehicle and ran on foot into a nearby retail store. Inside the store on Buckland Street, the man, identified as 32-year-old Jason M. Rivera of Springfield, Massachusetts, hid among shelves for about 20 minutes before K-9 units located him. Police said Rivera had outstanding warrants from a prior incident in the same town just one month earlier, on April 12, when he was charged with larceny of a motor vehicle after allegedly stealing a Toyota Camry from a South Windsor dealership. (; ) Rivera faces multiple new charges from the May 13 incident, including larceny of a motor vehicle, engaging police in pursuit, interfering with an officer, criminal mischief, and breach of peace. The stolen car he was driving this time was taken from East Hartford earlier that day, according to East Hartford police reports cited in the arrest summary. He was held on a $250,000 bond and arraigned the following morning in Manchester Superior Court. (; ) This marks Rivera's second brush with South Windsor authorities in 2026. Court records show he posted a reduced $10,000 bond after the April arrest but violated release conditions by returning to the area. South Windsor Police Chief Matthew Sonny noted in a statement that the quick apprehension "demonstrates our commitment to vehicle theft prevention," pointing to a 15% rise in regional car thefts this year. (; ) Vehicle thefts in Greater Hartford have surged 22% year-over-year through April 2026, per Connecticut State Police data, with Hyundai and Kia models targeted due to known security flaws. South Windsor's police department has ramped up patrols in shopping areas like the Buckland Hills mall vicinity, where Rivera's store hideout was located, as part of a multi-town task force launched in March. (; ) The store involved, a Family Dollar on Buckland Street, was briefly locked down during the search, with no injuries or damage reported. Employees told local media they recognized Rivera from news coverage of his prior arrest. Rivera's next court date is set for May 28 in Rockville Superior Court, where prosecutors will argue for detention citing his flight risk and repeat offenses. (; )