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06/15/2010 12:00 AMThe Branford Police Department made two arrests in a string of thefts including burglaries from homes and larcenies from restaurants and motor vehicles which have occurred over the past several weeks.
First was the arrest made on June 12) when two residents of Foxbridge Condominium complex reported burglaries. Police arrested James Smith, 22, of 228 Opening Hill Rd. after he became a suspect. Officers investigating the burglaries recovered the item taken, which include laptop computers, cell phones and other electronic equipment. Smith was charged with third- and second degree burglary, third- and sixth degree larceny, and third degree criminal mischief. He was held on a combined bond of $50,000 and was arraigned in New Haven Court on June 14. In addition, Smith is a suspect in numerous thefts from motor vehicles that have been report over the past several weeks. Those investigations are continuing and further arrests are anticipated.
Alana Fiorentino, 22, of 55 Forest View Road, North Branford, was arrested early June 13) morning after she became a suspect in the theft of a woman's purse from SBC Restaurant on West Main Street.
Fiorentino was charged with sixth degree larceny and released on a written promise to appear in New Haven Court on june 22. In addition, Fiorentino is the suspect in other investigations involving similar thefts.
Chief of Police John DeCarlo credits a large portion of these types of arrests to citizens and neighbors.
"Neighbors and citizens who report what they observe to the police is key to the success of the investigation. It increase the solvability rate immensely," DeCarlo said. "Our agency is only comprised or 52 pairs of eyes; with the citizens of our community helping, it increase to almost 30,000."