This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Crime & Safety

Boat Burglars Anchored For Good

Police Use eBay And Craig's List To Help Solve A Rash Of Boat Burglaries Along The Shoreline

In days gone by, thieves used an intermediary – a “fence” - to sell stolen property for them. In these times of high-technology, they use eBay and Craig’s list, police say.

But cops, who spent nine months tracking the perpetrators who were committing dozens of boat burglaries at marinas up and down the shoreline, said they made their own use of the Web to back-track sales – and with a bit of help from one of the victims – nail the culprits.

Police claim that Harry Neumann and Brian Irizzary had stolen $40-50,000 worth of marine electronics, computers, fishing gear, and other expensive equipment from boats stored or docked at marinas along the Connecticut River, from East Hampton to Old Saybrook, and along the shoreline, from Old Saybrook to Clinton.

Find out what's happening in Clintonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Estimating that the pair hit at least 30 boats, cops say there could be many more.

“A lot we’ve proved. A lot we suspect,” remarked Clinton police Sgt. Joseph Flynn, adding that both men have confessed to their roles in the burglary ring.

Find out what's happening in Clintonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The number of thefts of the expensive gear became such a concern at marinas that Clinton police Officer Greg Matakaetis said boat owners would urge them on in the pursuit of the thieves. “It was like a plague,” he said of the wide-ranging thefts.

They twice were foiled in break-ins when they encountered the boats’ owners on board the vessels, police said.

The equipment was sold entirely through listings on eBay or Craig’s List, using accounts in the perpetrators real names or the names of unsuspecting friends, police said, and it was through those listings that investigators were able to track them down.

Police – officers from Clinton, Old Saybrook, East Hampton and the Chester and Deep River resident troopers were involved in the investigation – began looking for sales of marine electronics on eBay and Craig’s List, hoping to trace them back to the seller. Police said one of the victims was doing the same thing, and notified police after finding his property in an on-line listing.

Police said they obtained numerous search warrants to back-track the sales of equipment for which they had serial numbers or other identifiers – obtaining user names and prices paid. Neumann and Irizzary sold the stolen equipment to buyers all over the United States and as far away as Australia and the United Kingdom, police said.

Police say the items stolen – global positioning system devices, laptops, binoculars, among them – have a value of $40-50,000, but thus far only $15,000 in property has been recovered. Notified by police that he was in possession of stolen property, a New Jersey man was so concerned that he spent $300 to rush the equipment to Clinton, police said.

Police said the leader of the operation, Neumann, has been wanted since 2009 on a number of outstanding warrants from other police agencies but has been eluding authorities by living under assumed names and falsified birth dates.

With the assistance of the U.S. Marshal’s office, Neumann was traced to a residence in Middletown, living with individuals unaware of his criminal activity, and arrested there the morning of June 6, police said.

Neumann, 25, held in lieu of $170,000 bail for a court appearance today, June 7, is charged with second-degree larceny, third-degree larceny, third-degree burglary, criminal mischief, and tampering with a vessel. He also was charged on two outstanding warrants for violation of probation for previous convictions, according to police.

His alleged partner in the marine crime wave, Brian Irizarry, 23, of 25 Hill Top Rd., East Hampton, was arrested last week on charges of third-degree burglary and larceny and conspiracy to commit larceny. Released on $1,500 non-surety bail, he is scheduled for court June 21.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.