Waldoboro, ME - Under The Influence Suspect Steals Police Cruiser From Town Offices

Waldoboro police cruiser stolen
By Staff Waldoboro News
11/26/08

WALDOBORO (Nov 26): A Waldoboro man entered an unlocked police cruiser at the town office and drove off with it at about 1:45 a.m. Nov. 16, according to a press release from the police department.
Officer Michel Dutil of the Waldoboro Police Department responded to a report of a man banging on the back doors of the town office asking for the police. As Dutil arrived at the rear of the town office, he watched a Waldoboro cruiser pass him going in the opposite direction. He also observed that it was being operated by a man who was not a Waldoboro police officer. Dutil immediately turned around, activated his blue lights and stopped the cruiser just north of the Waldoboro Police Station on Route 1.

Artur Konecny, 27, was immediately removed from the cruiser and placed under arrest without incident. Konecny was later transported to Two Bridges Jail where he was charged with burglary of a motor vehicle, unauthorized use of property and criminal operating under the influence.

Chief Bill Labombarde said that although the department has strict security standards with regards to locking and securing police vehicles and equipment, he was unaware that a key fob could unlock a vehicle door from as far away as the other side of the town office. After the theft of the cruiser Labombarde met with Sgt. Jamie Wilson and Town Manager William Post, which resulted in the reprogramming of the department's key fobs and a new vehicle key procedure being put into place.

The press release stated: "Ever wonder how those keyless entry systems that you carry on your keychain to unlock your car doors actually work? In short, when you push the button on your fob to lock or unlock your doors, you turn on a transmitter that sends a code to a receiver that is located in the car. The transmitter is similar to the ones found in a radio/remote–controlled toy. Chief Bill Labombarde of the Waldoboro Police Department learned a valuable lesson about vehicle fobs last week ..."

When asked about the incident, Labombarde said it was over as quickly as it began and no one was hurt and department equipment was not damaged. Had it not been for the quick response of Dutil, it could have had a much different outcome.


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