Date: Fri 17-Jul-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

police-antiques-Gardina-thefts

Full Text:

Woodbridge Man Arrested For Area Antiques Thefts

Four law enforcement agencies arrested a Woodbridge man July 9 in connection

with his alleged involvement in multiple antiques burglaries and thefts in

Newtown, Woodbury and Roxbury.

Connecticut State Police arrested Vincent J. Gardina, 43, of 51 Old Barnabas

Road, Woodbridge, on warrants listing multiple charges of burglary and larceny

in connection with past antiques burglaries in Woodbury and Roxbury.

State police pressed the charges based on information developed by the Canton

Police Department.

Gardina was arrested by the state police's Western District Major Crime Squad

and representatives of the Woodbury and Roxbury resident state troopers'

offices.

State police charged Gardina with eight counts of burglary. He posted a

$10,000 bail bond, and after processing, was released for a July 20 appearance

in Litchfield Superior Court in connection with the Roxbury breaks, and

released for a July 22 appearance in Waterbury Superior Court in connection

with the Woodbury burglaries.

State police then turned over Gardina to Newtown police, who had a pending

arrest warrant for him, listing two counts of third-degree burglary and two

counts of third-degree larceny.

Newtown police said the charges stem from two past burglaries at the same High

Bridge Road home in which antiques worth thousands of dollars were allegedly

stolen by Gardina and accomplices.

More arrests are pending in the Newtown case, police said.

Newtown police said Gardina is allegedly involved in a major antiques burglary

ring which operates throughout the state.

After processing, Newtown police released Gardina on a $5,000 bail bond for a

July 21 appearance in Danbury Superior Court.