The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Man sentenced for car break-ins
19-year-old man connected to 17 larcenies
TORRINGTON – A Hartford man was sentenced to 18 months in prison this week in connection with a series of car break-ins in Torrington in June 2016.
Luis M. Rodriguez, 19, of 162 Bushnell St., Hartford, was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit third-degree burglary, third-degree burglary, fifth-degree larceny and attempt to commit sixth-degree larceny, according to court records.
A Torrington police detective said in an affidavit that he was tasked with investigating 17 larcenies or attempted larcenies from vehicles stemming from June 26, 2016.
During the string of incidents, which took place in the area of Torringford Street near Joe Ruwet Field, a Toyota Highlander was stolen.
The SUV was later recovered in Hartford with the tires and wheels missing
and the driver and passenger-side doors damaged, according to the affidavit.
Items worth approximately $1,465 were taken from the Toyota, including a cellphone, and $602.24 was charged on the victim's credit card. Another $1,025 worth of items was taken from the other 16 vehicles, including change, medication, multiple GPS devices and two Bibles.
Rodriguez was arrested in Hartford in possession of
a stolen BMW in July 2016, according to the affidavit. He told police that he had been involved in car thefts in a number of Connecticut towns and cities, including Torrington.
Rodriguez told police that he traveled to Torrington with three other men in June 2016 and stole change and other valuables from the vehicles. He did not take the Toyota Highlander, he told police.
"During the interview I asked Rodriguez how many vehicles he would estimate he went into and he stated that he went into approximately 40 cars that night
and stole only loose coins," said the Torrington detective in the affidavit. "Once again I asked Rodriguez if he stole the Toyota Highlander and he stated he did not, but he did go into the vehicle, so his DNA would be inside the vehicle."
Rodriguez pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to commit third-degree burglary Tuesday in Superior Court in Torrington as part of a plea deal with the state. He was sentenced to five years in prison, execution suspended after 18 months, with three years probation. He was ordered to provide restitution of up to $1,887.
Execution of the sentence was suspended until Oct. 30, as Rodriguez is also charged in a separate case in Rockville.
Judge John A. Danaher III said he hoped Rodriguez altered the course of his life after this incident. He is young, and others have court proceedings become the entirety of their lives, Danaher said.
"I hope you make the decision that you're going to do things differently," said Danaher.