MONROE, CT — Police detectives are investigating the theft of $11,258 worth of items from Stone Farm, 754 Main St., that were purchased using a stolen credit card.
On Thursday, Stone Farm told officers a man came into their showroom on June 14, while inquiring about grills on sale. An employee showed him what they had and the customer left.
Then on June 19, the man came back and bought a $6,299 grill, a $1,199 side burner, a $765 trash/recycling drawer and a $2,995 deluxe outdoor refrigerator with a Visa credit card, police said, adding he loaded the merchandise into a Penske rental truck.
On July 5, Stone Farm was contacted by the credit card company and told the purchases were fraudulent and the card holder did not authorize the transaction.
Two arrests in commercial burglary
A 43-year-old Bridgeport man was arrested on a warrant Wednesday for allegedly participating in a theft from Yankocy Building Supplies, 143 Enterprise Drive in Monroe, on May 23.
He was picked up by Bridgeport police and turned over to Monroe on its warrant charging him with criminal trespass, conspiracy to commit six-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit criminal mischief in the third-degree. He was released on a promise to appear in court on July 14.
Police said a second suspect, another Bridgeport man, was previously arrested on the same charges.
On May 23, police responded to the complaint of three men in a U-Haul truck cutting a lock on the gate to the supply yard at Yankocy Wholesale and walking around the property in the overnight hours of May 21. Surveillance footage showed them load what appeared to be bolt cutters and a black cylinder item into the back of the truck and leave.
Police said it is unclear what the cylinder shaped item was or the value of it.
Video footage also showed the truck driving around a commercial property at 137 Enterprise Dr., police said.
Police are continuing to investigate the case.
Crash by Stevenson Dam
A 23-year-old Bridgeport man allegedly crossed over the double yellow line in his Chevrolet Cruze, while heading west on Route 34 Monday night, and struck a 2015 Nissan Rogue heading in the opposite direction.
Monroe Volunteer Emergency Medical Service personnel evaluated the other driver, a 46-year-old Seymour man, for possible injuries from the deployment of his vehicle’s air bag, but police said neither driver had to be taken to a hospital.
A witness told officers the Chevrolet Cruze came around the curve by Stevenson Dam at a high rate of speed, crossed over the double yellow line and hit the Nissan around 9:24 p.m., according to police.
The Bridgeport man was issued infractions for speeding and driving without a license. His vehicle was towed, because his license is suspended, police said.
The Nissan Rogue was towed due to disabling damage.
One vehicle crash on Purdy Hill
A 52-year-old Monroe man headed east on Purdy Hill Road, toward the Monroe Turnpike (Route 111) intersection Tuesday afternoon, when the 2018 Subaru Outback he was driving veered off the road to the left, jumped a curb and struck a stonewall in front of Purdy Hill Road Bakery, according to police.
The driver reportedly told officers he was on his way to Walgreens pharmacy, looked down for a second, and lost control of the vehicle before the crash.
Monroe Emergency Medical Service personnel evaluated him for injuries, but he was not taken to a hospital, the report said.
The driver was given a misdemeanor summons for operating with a suspended license and failure to maintain the proper lane, and the Subaru was towed.
Firefighters also responded to the accident, which occurred around 1:35 p.m.
Unemployment benefits scam
Police received four complaints since Monday from residents victimized by a scam, in which someone fraudulently applied for unemployment benefits from the Connecticut Department of Labor using their names and information.
All the victims were advised to contact the three major credit bureaus, to monitor their financial accounts and to report the incidents to the Labor Department and the Social Security Administration.
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