MONROE, Conn. — While driving to the scene of a shoplifting complaint at JB Wines & Spirits Saturday afternoon, police officers were called to a theft in progress at Kindred Spirits, another Main Street liquor store.
As the officers entered Kindred Spirits, the owner pointed to a customer, who allegedly tried to steal a bottle, before putting it back. While speaking to the customer in the parking lot, officers received a description of the suspect from the JB Wines & Spirits’ theft … which was a match.
Police said a $96 bottle of Don Julio Reposado reported stolen from JB Wines was on the front seat of the Nissan Rogue the customer was driving, and the 38-year-old Bridgeport man admitted to the theft.
He was charged with sixth-degree larceny and released on a promise to appear in court on Dec. 22.
A $4,000 scam
A Monroe woman was defrauded out of $4,000 in an Apple gift card scam, according to a complaint made Sunday.
Police said she told officers she met someone named “Jonathan” on a New York Rangers Facebook group a year-and-a-half ago and a lengthy texting relationship ensued. “Jonathan,” who had a phone number with a California area code, reportedly confided in her about a divorce and legal battles with his company.
He sent a slew of other messages clearly designed to extort money from the victim, according to police.
At some point, he convinced her to buy eight $500 Apple gift cards and transfer the money to him. Police said she scratched off the redemption codes and gave each one to the scammer.
Police said no legitimate company or public agency accepts payments via gift cards, adding this is only a method used by scammers.
The Monroe Police Detective Division is investigating the case.
Violations pile up
Police arrested a 36-year-old man on motor vehicle and narcotics charges following a traffic stop in the Chestnut Market parking lot, 145 Main St.
Police said the license plate on the driver’s 2014 Audi came back to a GMC Yukon. He told officers he bought the vehicle when he lived in Pennsylvania.
Officers also learned the man’s driver’s license was suspended in Pennsylvania, where there is a non-extraditable warrant for his arrest. This means he could be arrested in that state, but the charges are not serious enough for Pennsylvania officers to leave their state to get him.
Before the Audi was towed, officers took an inventory of the inside of the vehicle and found a variety of cannabis products and syringes and a clear plastic bag containing a crystal rock-like substance, which later tested positive for meth amphetamine, according to police.
Monroe police issued infractions for misuse of plates, driving an unregistered motor vehicle, driving without a license and driving without insurance, and charged the driver with possession of a control substance.
He was released on seven percent of his $500 bond for a Dec. 22 court date.
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