NORWICH — A Norwich man was arrested Sunday after police said he was found inside a fenced construction area at the Hayes Street parking lot while attempting to steal heavy equipment.

The City of Norwich Police Department said officers responded to the site at about 7 a.m. Sunday, April 5, after receiving a complaint about an unknown person inside the construction zone.

Norwich Police Chief Scott A. Burlison said officers found Ian Mineo, 21, of Guernsey St., Norwich, wearing a large coat and blue jeans covered in drywall dust. An investigation determined Mineo had unlawfully entered the site with tools and was in the process of stealing a Skyjack scissor lift and a forklift, according to police.

Police said Mineo was also found in possession of an unknown quantity of methamphetamine at the time of his arrest.

He was charged with third-degree criminal trespass, third-degree burglary, possession of burglar’s tools, criminal possession of a controlled substance, petit larceny, fourth-degree grand larceny, third-degree grand larceny and second-degree grand larceny.

Mineo was arraigned in Centralized Arraignment Court and is scheduled to reappear at a later date.

All charges are accusations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

- Information from the Norwich Police Department