MONROE, CT — A Bronx man turned himself in on a warrant on Oct. 2, closing a fraud case from five years ago.
In November of 2019, police officers worked with a United Parcel Service security advisor to arrest two men attempting to pick up two packages delivered vacant Monroe homes for sale.
The packages contained a total of just under $43,000 cash stolen from elderly women from Texas and North Carolina, who were victimized by a scam in which they were told a grandchild was in distress and needed money, according to police.
Through their investigation, law enforcement was able to intercept another payment in the mail and police returned the money recovered in Monroe, cutting checks for $23,900 and $18,900.
The women received their checks in the mail on Christmas Eve and both called the Monroe Police Department to thank the town’s officers.
Henry Mercedes, 50, of the Bronx, was allegedly the livery driver who took another man, Rosario-Canela, also from the Bronx, to a vacant house in Monroe to pick up the package in 2019.
Officers had descended on the two men, making the arrest and linking them to the second package, which was waiting at another Monroe address, which police picked up on the day of the UPS delivery.
The investigation continued, leading to an arrest warrant with more charges for Mercedes, who did not respond until Oct. 2 of this year, when he turned himself in at the Bridgeport Police Department and Monroe officers picked him up.
He was charged with larceny in the second degree, criminal impersonation and forgery and is scheduled to appear in court this Wednesday.
Landscapers lend a hand
The Monroe case began when landscapers working on Wheeler Road in November of 2019 reported a potential burglary after seeing a man fitting Mercedes’ description hanging around outside a house that was vacant and for sale.
The man was gone by the time police arrived and it was determined that there was no burglary. The landscapers told officers the man had walked up to a UPS delivery truck, before leaving.
Officers tracked down the UPS driver, who gave the same description of the man as the landscapers, saying he was there to retrieve a package.
By working with the UPS security advisor, town police learned of scheduled deliveries to two other vacant Monroe houses and arranged for officers to conduct surveillance of both addresses on the day of the delivery.
When Mercedes was being searched, police said officers found multiple fake IDs on him with his picture on it, including one with the name and address of the owner of the residence on Wheeler Road officers were called to a couple days prior.
Stolen baby formula
Police responded to a complaint over the theft of $787 worth of baby formula from Stop & Shop, 470 Monroe Turnpike. On Oct. 5, officers met with an asset protection associate, who said it occurred the previous day.
Video surveillance captured a male taking the baby formula and leaving the store without paying for it. Using information on the vehicle he drove off in, officers traced it to a Waterbury resident, who denied any involvement in the theft.
The matter is still under investigation.
Trespassing at the Warrens
Police issued 10 citations for simple trespass to a group of people found in the backyard of late paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren’s former property on Knollwood Street on Oct. 5.
At approximately 6:19 p.m., officers responding to a complaint found the individuals, whose ages ranged from their 20s to their 40s, on the property. Police said eight were from Bridgeport, one from Ansonia and the other from New Hyde Park in New York.
No trespassing signs are posted prominently on the Warren property and throughout the neighborhood.
Monroe woman scammed
A 74-year-old Monroe woman received an automated phone call asking if she had purchased a MacBook and when she said she did not, a live person picked up the call, according to a police complaint made on Sept. 28.
After she complied, police said the caller told her to transfer $15,000 from her savings account to her checking account, which she did.
She was on the phone for about three hours, before realizing it was a scam, according to the report.
Police said the victim managed to transfer the $15,000 back to her savings account, before it could be stolen from her, but Target and Home Depot could not reimburse her for the gift cards, so she is out $1,000.
“We would like to remind the public again that no reputable company will accept gift cards as a form of payment,” Lt. Kevin McKellick said Monday.
Warrant arrest
A 49-year-old Shelton woman turned herself in on a warrant for DUI Sept. 29, stemming from a crash in the 60-block of East Village Road just after 10 p.m. on Jan. 12, in which her Subaru Cross Trek was found upside down, resting on its roof.
The driver was seriously injured and firefighters had to extricate her from the vehicle, police said.
A witness told officers he heard tires screeching shortly before the sound of a car crash, checked on the driver and called 911.
EMS took the driver to Bridgeport Hospital, where records revealed she had an elevated blood alcohol level, according to police.
Police said the woman was later taken into custody by Shelton police, who transferred her to Monroe on its arrest warrant.
She was charged with operating under the influence and failure to maintain the proper lane before being released on $2,500 court set bond. She was scheduled to appear in court Monday.
All respectful comments with the commenter’s first and last name are welcome.
