Teen charged with stealing car mirrors

Old Saybrook – Town police arrested a teenager for stealing side-view mirrors off of cars parked in local restaurants and churches and selling them online.

Justin Grebasch, 18, of 5 Arrowhead Lane, Old Saybrook, was charged with third-degree larceny. He turned himself in to police today and was released on a $1,500 bond, said Sgt. Kevin Roche, a police spokesman.

A nearly month-long investigation by Officer Ryan Walsh found that Grebasch allegedly took the side mirrors off of a GMC car parked at Saint John Church on Main Street. The mirrors were heated and were equipped with LED turn arrows. On the same night, another mirror was taken from a car of Liv’s Oyster Bar and another car parked at Grace Episcopal Church on Main Street. Police have not found the victim whose car was parked at Grace Episcopal Church, Roche said.

Two days later, the mirrors from two more GMC cars parked at Saint John’s for Mass were missing.

Walsh was able to track down Grebasch through eBay, an auction Web site, on which the mirrors were being sold. He questioned Grebasch who allegedly admitted to the thefts.

A GMC dealer valued the sets of mirrors at $710 and the value of mirrors stolen in Old Saybrook totaled $2,165.36, police said.

The mirrors were being sold on eBay for $15 to $100, police said.

During the investigation, police learned that mirrors were also stolen in East Haddam.

Town police are working with the state police, as the thefts are still under investigation and more arrests are expected, police said.

Anyone with similar thefts should report them to their local police department.