The arrest Tuesday (Dec. 16) of two New Haven men on charges they stole packages intended for delivery in Shelton prompted police to warn residents about how they can assure their holiday packages arrive safe and sound.
In a prepared statement, Shelton Police Lt. Robert Kozlowsky said officers were dispatched about noon to Meadow Lake Drive on a larceny complaint.
A man told police he had seen a green pickup truck park on the street with two men inside, and had watched the driver exit the vehicle, take a package from the porch of a residence, and drive away.
Soon after, Officer Jesse Butwell located the truck on Meadow Street by William Street and stopped it, finding several packages with Shelton addresses inside.
“This is another example of the police and the public working together as a team to solve an issue,” Kozlowsky said.
Butwell took 35-year-old Jose Santini and 42-year-old Alejandro Guzman into custody, charging them both with three counts each of sixth-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit sixth-degree larceny.
Santini was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and several motor vehicle violations, Kozlowsky said.
Both were being held on $10,000 bonds Tuesday and are due to appear Wednesday (Dec. 17) at Superior Court in New Haven.
Police said that if residents are having packages delivered, they should:
- Request delivery to the store itself and pick up the item there.
- Have the package delivered to their work address or to the courier’s pickup station rather than their home.
- Schedule delivery for a day that they know they will be home or a relative or friend will be home.
- Require a signature upon receipt for deliveries.
Police said residents should be extra vigilant because of the holiday season.
“This time of year some thieves will target residences because there is an increase in the package deliveries (Christmas season),” Kozlowsky said Wednesday (Dec. 17).
