Monroe detectives arrested two suspects linked to three burglaries in town, according to a press release issued today. Police said 14 more arrests are pending as a result of a regional effort by law enforcement to solve burglaries in Monroe and six other Fairfield County towns.
The total value of the property reported stolen in the three Monroe cases was approximately $59,000.
"This case came together through the cooperative effort of the victims, observant citizens, good patrol procedures and detective work," Monroe Police Lt. Brian McCauley said.
Conner James Buckley, 20, of Oak Avenue in Shelton and Eammon Donnelly, 30, of Castle Meadow Road in Newtown were both linked to three Monroe burglaries committed in September and October.
Buckley was charged with two counts of third-degree burglary and two counts of second-degree larceny and held on $250,000 bond. Donnelly was charged with third-degree burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, first-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit first-degree larceny. He was held on $100,000 bond.
Monroe police received numerous complaints of burglaries in September and October with targeted property — mostly jewelry and cash. During weekly regional burglary squad meetings it was learned that many of the Fairfield County towns had a similar increase in burglaries, according to a police.
Officers found that similar information was being reported by victims' neighbors at the times of the burglaries and witnesses provided "bits of information" allowing investigators to come up with two suspected types of vehicles.
A Monroe officer on patrol observed a vehicle matching the description of one of the vehicles and spoke with the driver, who claimed he was having car trouble but did not require police assistance, police said. Using the information gathered by the officer, surveillance was established.
This led to a search warrant being obtained by the Monroe Police Department for the Shelton residence and vehicle of Conner James Buckley, according to police.
Officers recovered a large amount of jewelry, tools, gloves and small electronic items from Buckley's home and vehicle, police said, adding that an arrest warrant was applied for based upon that evidence. On Oct. 19, Buckley was arrested for house burglaries in Monroe.
Then a subsequent search warrant was obtained for the Newtown residence and vehicle of Eammon Donnelly and jewelry and burglary tools were found inside the truck, according to police.
