Second Man Arrested in Connection with Queen Street Car Burglaries

A New Britain man is the latest to face charges in connection with a string of overnight car burglaries in the Queen Street area after police said evidence tied him to the incidents that occurred in early December.

William Rivera, 36, was charged during a related court appearance in Bristol Superior Court on Tuesday, police said. He is facing charges including ten counts of third-degree burglary, seven counts of sixth-degree larceny, nine counts of third-degree criminal mischief, ten counts of conspiracy to commit third-degree burglary, seven counts of conspiracy to commit sixth-degree larceny and nine counts of conspiracy to commit third-degree criminal mischief.

The arrest stems from , in which Rivera and two accomplices including a 17-year-old broke into ten vehicles located at various locations on Queen Street.

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“On Dec. 5, police responded to numerous apartment complexes on Route 10 for reports of vehicle break-ins,” said Southington Police Sgt. Jeffrey Dobratz. “Plainville also had break-ins approximately two miles north, sometime during the overnight hours. We had a total of eight cases in all.”

According to police reports, evidence later discovered by Plainville police tied him to direct break-ins in which Rivera, the 17-year-old and Fernando Viera allegedly would smash car or truck windows to gain access to the vehicle.

Viera was taken into custody on charges in early February.

The police report said the three took wallets and pocketbooks, iPad/iPod electronics and accessories and several GPS systems. In one car, he failed to find anything of value to take.

But when caught in relation to another theft in Plainville early on Dec. 5, it led to a chase that ended when the car he was in flipped on it’s roof and onto a lawn on East Maple Street in Plainville. Police said Viera was driving and he was one of three who were arrested after police were forced to initiate a search.

Viera is facing charges of first-degree larceny by possession, first-degree conspiracy to commit larceny, second-degree criminal trover, second-degree conspiracy to commit criminal trover, interfering with an officer, risk of injury to a minor, reckless endangerment, failure to grant right of way, failure to obey the signal of an officer, traveling too fast for conditions, passing on the right and breach of peace in the case.

He is due back in court on March 21.

Dobratz said last month that Plainville police discovered many of the stolen objects in the car and reached out to Southington police after learning they may be seeking Viera.

“They were extremely cooperative and it helped lead to the arrest,” Dobratz said.

Rivera also has numerous pending charges stemming from the Plainville arrest, in which he is facing various charges which include criminal trover, first-degree larceny, risk of injury to a minor, interfering with police and conspiracy charges

Court records show that Rivera remains in custody in lieu of more than $750,000 in bonds and is due back in court on March 21.

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