The Brazen Trail: How a Multi-Day Crime Spree Unraveled Across Connecticut Towns

In truth, it was a particularly audacious stretch. For days, the quiet hum of early October mornings across central Connecticut was shattered by a relentless string of commercial burglaries, leaving local businesses—from gas stations to vape shops—with smashed doors and empty cash registers. It felt, you could say, like a shadow moving swiftly from one town to the next, a phantom striking under the cover of darkness. And yet, shadows eventually get caught by the light.

The authorities, in a coordinated effort across Glastonbury, East Hartford, and Windsor, have finally brought charges against three individuals suspected of orchestrating this multi-day crime spree. Dandre Miller, a 26-year-old from Hartford, along with Alanna Smith, 22, of East Hartford, and David Colon, 30, also from Hartford, now face a litany of charges. We're talking multiple counts of burglary, larceny, criminal mischief, and conspiracy; it’s a long list, honestly, reflecting the sheer scale of their alleged activities.

Think about it: these aren't isolated incidents. Investigators allege that the trio launched their first wave of attacks between October 2nd and 3rd. Then, after what must have been a brief respite, they were back at it, reportedly hitting more businesses on October 5th and 6th. Their method? Brutally effective, if simple: forcing entry, often by smashing windows or doors, and then making off with anything easily grabbed—cold hard cash, scratch-off lottery tickets, a stack of cigarettes, and, naturally, vape products.

Glastonbury, for one, saw its fair share of the havoc, with a Shell station, a Valero, a Mobil, a Dunkin', and even Tobacco World all falling victim. But the spree wasn't confined to just one town, not by a long shot. East Hartford experienced similar violations at its Shell, Mobil, Dunkin', Smoke & Vape, and Gas & Go locations. And just to round things out, a Mobil station in Windsor was also hit. It paints a picture, doesn't it? A whirlwind of destruction, town after town.

A critical piece of the puzzle, according to police, was the use of a stolen Kia Forte. This vehicle, seemingly their mobile command center, became a key thread in the investigation, helping officers link the various incidents. But piecing together such a complex case, covering so many jurisdictions and incidents, required meticulous police work—surveillance footage, forensic evidence, and, crucially, good old-fashioned detective intuition.

For Dandre Miller, this isn't his first dance with the law. He was, in fact, out on parole for prior burglary charges when this latest string of alleged crimes unfolded. It's a detail that adds another layer, perhaps a touch of grim familiarity, to the narrative. The justice system, you see, often grapples with these cycles, and for small businesses already navigating tough economic waters, each shattered window and stolen dollar isn’t just a statistic; it’s a tangible hit to their livelihoods, their sense of security. And that, truly, is the hardest part to stomach.