'Boyfriend' Charged in Theft of $6,700 From Southington Family

Police have charged a Flanders Road man after they said an investigation found he took $6,700 worth of jewelry and cash from his girlfriend’s family over a four-month period from October 2011 through February 2012.

Officers booked Christopher D. Mastrianni, of 247 Flanders Road in Southington, on one charge of third-degree larceny after he turned himself in late last week. Mastrianni, 25, was released after posting a $5,000 bond, police said.

“It was a case where he had been taking items from the family for some time. An investigation led detectives to find he had sold items at several area pawn shops,” said Sgt. Lowell DePalma.

Officers began investigating in February after the family reported a considerable amount of gold jewelry and hundreds of dollars in cash missing from their home, a police report said.

DePalma said that detectives identified Mastrianni as a possible suspect after speaking with the family. Family members noted that he was around at the time of the thefts and had access to the home due to his relationship with the homeowner’s daughter.

When officers searched local pawnshop records, they found he had sold the jewelry, comprised mostly of rings, at Tri-City Pawn in New Britain and Dee’s Antiques in Meriden on several occasions between October 2011 and February 2012.

The items were recovered, police said, and information was provided showing he had sold the jewelry.

“When officers talked to him, Chris told them he had taken the items and was dealing with a personal issue,” DePalma said.

Mastrianni is due in Bristol Superior Court for arraignment on March 26.