Turns out a break-in at a shed behind a Shelton church is connected to a “well-organized” ring of burglars.
Several area departments, and the state police Auto Theft Task Force, arrested two people alleged to be part of that burglary ring early Thursday.
One, Leslie Monge of Bridgeport, was arrested Thursday in connection with the theft from a tool shed behind St. Lawrence Church in December.
Monge, 37, was charged with third-degree burglary and third-degree larceny in connection with the burglary. Detective Ben Trabka said thousands of dollars worth of tools were stolen from the shed.
Police last month also charged a Shelton man in connection with the burglary. Danny Spencer, 32, of 45 Maple Lane in Shelton, was charged with conspiracy to commit third-degree burglary and conspiracy to commit third-degree larceny.
Police in Bridgeport also arrested another man there in connection with other burglaries, police said.
A third person was expected to be arrested Thursday.
The Ring
Shelton police worked with the State Police Auto Theft Task Force, and police departments in Stratford and Bridgeport to search three homes early Thursday.
They recovered several stolen cars, a motorcycle and some weapons, according to a press release from the Shelton Police Department. The items totaled more than $50,000 in value.
Police are still searching through the items, trying to identify the owners. Some of the stolen goods had been reported missing as early as 1997, police said.
Trabka said a group of several area police departments have been investigating the ring of burglars for more than a month. He described their operation as “well organized” and said the group has been around for more than a decade.
Trabka declined to give details about how many people are in the group, or how, specifically, they operate.
Police are still investigating, and expect to make more arrests.
