Food delivery driver allegedly broke into student’s home, stood at her bed

HAMDEN, Conn. (TCD) -- A 24-year-old food delivery driver was arrested Tuesday for allegedly breaking into women’s homes near a local university.

Hamden Police said they responded to an attempted residential burglary call at a residence on Kimberly Road on Tuesday at approximately 11:30 p.m. A female student at Quinnipiac University reportedly told police she was inside when the suspect "attempted to forcibly break into the residence through a window."

The female student reportedly shined a flashlight at the window, and the suspect, Adiel Viana-Ribeiro, fled the scene.

Not long after the first incident, Hamden Police received a similar call at a residence on West Woods Road. A second female student reportedly told police she was asleep when Viana-Ribeiro allegedly "entered an unsecure rear door" into her home. The student "was awoken by the individual standing at the foot of her bed."

She reportedly started yelling and he fled.

Hamden Police said no one was injured in either of the two instances.

Police found Viana-Ribeiro’s vehicle and tried stopping him. He reportedly tried to flee from police but was ultimately apprehended on I-84 with the help of Connecticut State Police. Hamden Police said they found evidence inside his vehicle.

Viana-Ribeiro reportedly is a part of the gig economy as a delivery driver and also "drives passengers for app-based service companies." Police say he "specifically targeted houses where he previously made deliveries to females."

Viana-Ribeiro was charged with first-degree burglary, criminal attempt to commit burglary first degree, second-degree criminal mischief, 6th-degree larceny, engaging police in pursuit, and reckless driving. He is being held on $50,000 bond.

According to WTNH-TV, Quinnipiac University associate vice president for public relations commended the Hamden Police Department and Connecticut State Police and encouraged students to "practice good safety habits" by remembering to lock doors and windows.

DoorDash told WTNH in a statement, "These horrifying reports are deeply disturbing, and we immediately removed the Dasher from our platform. The safety of our community is paramount, and we have reached out to law enforcement to support their investigation in any way we can."

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