Youths Charged With Burglary,

Larceny And Vandalism

By Andrew Gorosko

Police made five arrests June 20 in their continuing investigation into a recent string of burglaries across town, in which youths have entered unlocked homes, stolen alcohol from the premises, and then fled.

During the past month, police have received reports of a half-dozen such incidents and say they have several suspects in those cases.

On the afternoon of June 20, police responded to reports of trouble in the area of Horseshoe Ridge Road and Sleepy Hollow Road. Police arrested five youths that afternoon on burglary, larceny, and criminal mischief charges. 

At about 1 pm, a Horseshoe Ridge Road resident reported to police that a group of youths had entered her garage and on finding a refrigerator in it, stole many bottles of a wine cooler-type drink, plus other alcoholic beverages. The youths then fled in an auto.

Police said they spotted a vehicle matching the description of the youths’ vehicle and stopped it on Old Green Road, finding five occupants within it, plus the stolen alcohol.

Also, police received reports that afternoon of mailbox vandalism at various locations along Sleepy Hollow Road, a relatively new residential subdivision off Valley Field Road South. A number of mailboxes there had been damaged, with their contents falling onto the street.

Charged in connection with the June 20 incidents are: Adam Miller, 16, of 11 Saddle Ridge Road, third degree burglary, sixth degree larceny, sixth degree larceny by possession, second degree criminal mischief; Stephen Phillips, 17, of 24 Washbrook Road, third degree burglary, sixth degree larceny, and second degree criminal mischief; Benjamin Moore, 17, of 44 The Old Road, third degree burglary, sixth degree larceny, and second degree criminal mischief; Aaron Cooper, 16, of 11 Newbury Road, second degree criminal mischief; and William Mantz, 16, of 9 Meadow Road, second degree criminal mischief.

Third degree burglary is a felony. Sixth degree larceny involves the theft of items worth less than $250. Second degree criminal mischief involves vandalism with a damage value of between $250 and $1,500.

After booking the five youths on the criminal charges, police released them from custody on promises to appear for July 8 arraignments on the charges in Danbury Superior Court.

Noting the seriousness of burglary charges, Police Chief Michael Kehoe said he hopes that the judge handling the case considers sentencing the youths charged with burglary to stern punishment, such as jail time, if they are convicted.

“It’s shocking that young people would act in this manner,” the police chief said, terming the illegal entry of a home “very serious criminal behavior.”

Burglaries create dangerous situations in which the burglar and homeowner may confront each other after the burglar has illegally entered a residence, the police chief said.

Chief Kehoe said that the recent string of alcohol-related burglaries remains under investigation.