May 4, 2023, 7:56 AM

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Updated

Bridgeport police say four men have been arrested after officers found guns in their car following a burglary attempt at an apartment building.

Andy Marte, 29, of Meriden; Tyrone Allen, 46, of Bridgeport; Jermaine Bethel, 27, of Bridgeport; and Kareen Porter, 24, of Bridgeport are charged with second-degree conspiracy to commit burglary with a firearm, criminal possession of a firearm, criminal possession of ammunition, illegal sale, delivery, or transfer of a firearm, carrying a pistol without permit, illegal possession of large capacity magazine, weapons in a motor vehicle and failure to obtain serial number.

The incident happened Friday on Ridgefield Avenue.

Police say members of the Bridgeport Regional Auto Theft Task Force were patrolling the area when they noticed a gray Mercedes-Benz with heavily tinted windows and a counterfeit New Jersey license plate circling an apartment building.

Police say Marte, the driver, stayed in the car while the three other men went into the back of the building wearing masks. Police say the men came out of the building a few minutes later, noting one was wearing latex gloves.

Police say they conducted a traffic stop based on the counterfeit plate and suspicious activity. They say officers found a gun on the floor of the car behind the front passenger seat.

Police then obtained surveillance video of the property, which they say showed the men trying to break into an apartment with crowbars. Police say they recovered two crow bars and a ghost gun after searching the car again.

Police say they found crack-cocaine and pills on Bethel and Porter. The two are also charged with possession of narcotics with intent to sell.

The Bridgeport Regional Auto Theft Task Force is comprised of officers from Bridgeport, Stratford, Trumbull, Fairfield and Westport. The task force works to recover stolen cars before the cars are used in violent crimes.