Police: Southington 21-Year-Old Caught in Stop and Shop Burglary Spree Involving Gun

A commercial parking lot may seem like the perfect spot for a car burglary spree, but one Southington resident learned over the weekend that you better be careful who is watching.

An alert victim was able to catch the 21-year-old in the act, police reported Monday, and by catching the license plate as the suspect drove away helped officers hunt down a man they said had entered several cars at Stop and Shop on North Main Street Sunday evening.

Police took Artur Kasinski, of 33 Muir Terrace in Southington, into custody shortly after officers responded to his home and found him putting something in the back seat of his car. He was taken into custody on charges of sixth-degree larceny, theft of a firearm, criminal possession of a firearm, possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle and illegal possession of prescription drugs.

Kasinski was held overnight and arraigned in Bristol Superior Court Monday, according to court officials. He was released following the hearing after posting bond.

“(On Sunday) at approximately 6:36 p.m., police received a report that a male had just stolen a handgun from a vehicle that was parked in the Stop and Shop parking lot,” said Southington Police Sgt. Jeffrey Dobratz.

“It is alleged that Kasinski entered an unlocked vehicle that was parked in the parking lot,” Dobratz said. “After stealing the handgun, he was seen fleeing the area heading west out of the Stop and Shop parking lot. The victim was able to obtain a license plate from the vehicle as it was fleeing the scene.”

Officers responded to the address where Kasinski’s car was registered, and found him reaching into the back seat. He was asked to step back and complied with police requests, admitting that he had taken the handgun and other items from the vehicle.

In all, police recovered a plastic bag containing an assortment of change, two prescription bottles, multiple car adapters, a digital camera and a .22 caliber pistol with a box of ammunition from Kasinski’s vehicle, according to reports.

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