Charges Mounting for Southington Resident in Residential, Copper Thefts

The charges are beginning to mount up for a Southington man that police said was involved in both a theft at a Mariondale Avenue home in August 2011 and copper wire from a Connecticut Light & Power substation in September 2011.

Police took Joseph J. Crap, of 412 Lazy Lane, into custody Monday morning on two separate warrants stemming from the alleged thefts. He was arraigned in Bristol Superior Court on charges of second-degree criminal trespassing and two counts of fourth-degree larceny.

Crapo, 26, remains in custody at the Hartford Correctional Center in lieu of $50,000 in court set bonds, according to the state Department of Correction website.

“The warrants stem from two separate cases that took place late last summer,” said Sgt. Lowell DePalma. “It is alleged that he had both taken items including a diamond ring and cash from a safe while at a Southington home in August, as well as taking copper wire from a CL&P truck a month later.”

Police said that in late August, officers were called to a home on Mariondale Avenue for a report of a theft. According to the incident report, the homeowner discovered that someone had entered her safe and taken a diamond ring valued at $1,5000, and $500 in cash.

The victim told police that Crapo was a family friend and had been over the house earlier in the day. She said he had taken items before and was concerned he may have done it again.

When detectives began to search for the items, DePalma said they found that Crapo had attempted to sell the ring to the Jaws Trading Post in New Britain. The investigation also found he had taken a cell phone from the family, which was sold to Connecticut Pawn in Bristol.

While police were actively investigating the case, however, DePalma said Crapo was allegedly involved in a second theft, this time taking copper wire from a CL&P substation along Bellview Avenue.

“CL&P staff reported in September that someone had entered the substation property overnight and taken eight rolls of 18-foot copper wiring,” DePalma said. “The wire was eventually sold to Liberty Scrap and was valued at $600.”

Detectives investigating the case first identified Crapo as a suspect after learning from the Cheshire Police Department that he may have been involved in a similar incident in their town. The information allowed police to tie Crapo to the theft and although he has not yet been charged in the Cheshire case, police said Tuesday that additional charges are likely coming.

Crapo has a history of theft in the area. He was convicted on sixth-degree larceny in a Cheshire theft in 2008, as well as three separate larceny cases in Southington dating back to 2004, according to the state’s Judicial Branch website.

Crapo is due back in Bristol Superior Court on Feb. 16.