Burglaries on the rise

WINSTED — Three seperate burglaries kept Winchester police officers busy last week. Crimes were reported in the early hours of Wednesday, Oct. 29, and Sunday, Nov. 2. While police feel the crimes are not connected, an increase in criminal behavior in Winsted and local communities has been noticed.

On Wednesday the Winsted police responded to the Red Rooster Saloon, the former McGurk’s Pub, at 900 Main St. Police Chief Guerriero said an ATM machine was pryed open and cash was taken. Though he case is still open, Guerriero said he would not be surprised to discover that the crime was committed by a patron of the establishment who was familiar with the building’s floorplan.

Four days later, two burglaries were reported just hours apart along the Route 44 corridor, this time on the east end of town.

At approximately 12:43 a.m. Nov. 2, Guerriero said a cell phone call was made to the police department reporting suspicious activity at the Dunkin’ Donuts, located at 3 Main St.

"A person was in the area and saw a suspicous vehicle pull in the parking lot with its headlights off," said the police chief. Police responded to Dunkin’ Donuts and confirmed that the building had been broken into through a rear access door.

Using the information provided by the undisclosed witness, police located Julio Caraballo, owner of the vehicle, at his Hillside Avenue home. After conducting a search of his vehicle, Caraballo was arrested for breaking into Dunkin’ Donuts.

"There was evidence inside the vehicle tying him into the burglary," said Guerriero, who reported that Caraballo had taken mostly change from the donut shop.

Caraballo was charged with burglary in the third degree, larceny in the sixth degree, criminal mischief in the third degree, possession of burglar tools and weapons in a motor vehicle. He was released on a $5,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Bantam Court Monday, Nov. 10.

According to the state of Connecticut judicial Web site and Guerriero, Caraballo is no stranger to law enforcement officials. In July Caraballo was charged with larceny in the fourth and fifth degree and was scheduled to appear in court on those charges Thursday, Nov. 6.

Also in the early hours of Sunday morning, police responded to Winsted Pawn and Jewelry, located at 424 Main St., for a reported burglary.

Rocks were thrown through two windows at the front of the store. Owner Angelina Fowler said two X-Box 360 game systems were taken; however, other items in the window, such as jewelry and tools, were left behind.

Surviellance cameras installed at the time of the incident recorded footage and Fowler said they are actively looking into a possible lead in the case, which remained open at press time.

To facilitate the investigation, Fowler said she and her husband, Gregory, co-owner of the store, are offering a $500 cash reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the burglars. Anyone with information is asked to call the Winsted Police Department at 860-379-2721.

Guerriero said he is not entirly convinced that hard financial times are to blame for the latest crime spree.

"Most of the time we look at these things, it’s people with drug problems and trying to feed their drug problem," said Guerriero.

The police chief added that Winchester police work closely with police departments across the state and exchange information on a weekly basis as a way to find patterns in crimes. He said that the Connecticut State Police have recently had similar burglaries in nearby towns and police are looking to see if any of the cases are connected.

The Red Rooster Saloon and Winsted Pawn Shop cases remain open for investigation.