Middlebury Police Catch Big Break in Burglary Case

By Gary Jeanfaivre 

A report of a suspicious vehicle in Middlebury broke open a case that police say involves crimes throughout the state, including the recent rash of burglaries in Woodbury.

Two suspects have already been arrested and more are expected, according to Richard Wildman, Middlebury Acting Police Chief. 

During the department's investigation, which was conducted in partnership with Woodbury Resident Trooper's Office and the Connecticut State Police, officers seized two stolen vehicles and shut down what they believe is a chop shop in Bristol.

Police caught their big break Monday when a report came in of a suspicious vehicle near Breakneck Hill Road and North Farms Road in Middlebury. Officers responded and pulled over a vehicle, Wildman said, and that set off the multi-department investigation.

"As a result of this partnership, police conducted an all-day surveillance operation on Oct. 3 in Bristol," the police report states. "Midlebury Police worked the afternoon and evening gathering intelligence from New England State Police Intelligence Network and other law enforcement agencies. This work led to police obtaining and executing two search warrants, one in Bristol on Gridley Street and an additional one in Waterbury on Grove Street." 

During the execution of the search warrants, police recovered two stolen vehicles — a Suzuki motorcycle, stolen out of Manchester, and a Polaris quad, which was taken during anovernight burglary spree in Woodbury.

In Bristol, police say the recovered an additional Suzuki motorcycle that was stolen from Middletown. The motorcycle had a license plate that was reportedly stolen from Simsbury.

Police say they believe the Bristol location was a chop shop and that evidence was recovered which should lead to additional arrests for crimes throughout Connecticut.

The two individuals arrested to date are:

• Andrew Korzen, 39, of Conrad Street in Naugatuck, on two counts of conspiracy to commit third-degree larceny. He was released on a $25,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Waterbury Superior Court on Oct. 10.
   
• Andrew Elmassri, 29, of Stonewall Lane in Waterbury, on a charge of conspiracy to commit third-degree larceny. He was released also on a $50,000 bond and is due in Waterbury Superior Court on Oct. 8.