A Seymour man accused of a string of commercial burglaries this summer told police he went on the spree in an effort to finance his crack addiction, according to an arrest warrant.
The man, 40-year-old James Aspinwall, has been locked up since his Aug. 4 arrest in connection with the Seymour break-ins — which he allegedly committed while he had other burglary charges pending in court.
Burglary Spree
According to an arrest warrant written by Detective Steve Ditria, burglaries were reported at five Seymour businesses in June that police suspected had been perpetrated by the same suspect:
- A June 2 burglary at Cheong Hing Kitchen on West Street;
- A June 25 burglary at Falbo’s Garage on West Street;
- A June 25 burglary at Starbucks on West Street;
- A June 27 burglary at Subway in the Tri-Town Plaza on Derby Avenue;
- A June 27 burglary at Hair Intrigue in Tri-Town Plaza.
In each of the break-ins the suspect smashed a door or window to the business before looking for cash inside.
Police also retrieved surveillance footage from several of the businesses, the warrant says.
Investigation
According to the warrant police got a break in the case when Ansonia Police Detective Stephen Adcox saw surveillance footage from the Hair Intrigue break-in on social media.
Adcox immediately recognized Aspinwall on the footage, the warrant says, because he had investigated burglaries committed by Aspinwall in Ansonia in the past.
Seymour detectives questioned Aspinwall at his home, where he allegedly told them he was addicted to crack cocaine, and though he had been clean for a while, had recently relapsed.
The warrant says he answered some questions implicating himself in the burglaries, but then told the detectives he had just smoked crack. He said he wanted to take a nap and shower before discussing it more at the police station, but then never showed up.
The next day, however, Derby cops arrested Aspinwall on a drug possession charge.
Seymour Police Detective Joseph Matusovich interviewed Aspinwall in the Derby police lockup, where he confessed to the burglaries.
“James stated among other things, that all these burglaries that he committed were due to the fact that he has a major crack dependency, and that his habit is driving him to commit these crimes,” the warrant says.
“This isn’t my character,” the warrant says Aspinwall told police. “I want to get help so it stops me making poor decisions and gets me help with my addiction and my desire for crack.”
In addition to the Seymour break-ins, the warrant says Aspinwall confessed to breaking into the Mobil gas station on Route 67 in Oxford the same night as the Starbucks and Falbo’s burglaries.
Pending Cases
At the time of the Seymour and Oxford break-ins, court records show Aspinwall was out on bond in connection with a Feb. 4 Derby arrest on charges of attempted third-degree burglary, possession of burglary tools, possession of narcotics, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
He also possession of narcotics and drug paraphernalia charges in two other Derby cases linked to separate arrests in March and June.
In the Seymour and Oxford cases, he faces charges of:
- Four counts of third-degree burglary;
- Six counts of second-degree criminal mischief;
- Three counts of sixth-degree larceny;
- One count of fifth-degree larceny;
- One count of attempted sixth-degree larceny.
He is scheduled to appear at Superior Court in Derby Oct. 12. He has pleaded not guilty.
