Farmington CT Police Looking for Diamond Thief

Typically when you think of “shoplifting”, you think of some kids stealing snacks or, at the worst, some boosting of clothing and merchandise at the mall. The Courant recently published a story, however, revealing the surveillance photo of a man accused of “shoplifting” $36,000 in diamonds.

The story isn’t specific about how the theft went down, but they do say that the unknown thief made off with three diamonds from Monarch Jewelers on Farmington Avenue.

Similar thefts from jewelers often go something like this. A nice, interested customer asks to see a tray of jewelry or loose diamonds that is behind the glass. Once it is in the open, the thief grabs and dashes for the door. Not a very high tech theft attempt, but obviously one that has limited success.

Police have not yet identified the man seen in surveillance photos, though they are likely chomping at the bit to get him into custody.

In Connecticut, the charge you face for theft is directly related to the amount of money or value of the items stolen. In this case, with the reported value being about $36,000, the thief would be looking at Grand Larceny charges.

Grand larceny is a Class B felony and the most serious theft charge under Connecticut law. It carries a potential 20 year prison sentence and fines reaching $15,000.

There are many ways to get a theft charge and shoplifting is only one. You could be charged with theft for taking something from someone you know without permission. Perhaps you are accused of embezzling funds from your employer or obtaining services by fraud.

All of these are theft charges and all of them carry fairly serious penalties. If you are up against any type of theft or white collar crime charge in the state of Connecticut, call me today.
I can help you figure out the best way to handle the charges and together we can work towards the best possible results.

Serial Connecticut Bank Robber Caught in Hartford

Within the past few weeks, the nation watched grainy surveillance video as a brazen woman walked into 6 banks and demanded money. She never disguised her face nor made any attempt to conceal her identity. Now, Heather Brown is in custody.

Brown, a 34 year old Connecticut resident, has a history of drug abuse and crime, according to this article from the Hartford Courant. She is currently on probation for charges of burglary, larceny, forgery, and prostitution. She was recently released from a 30 month prison bid for a 2006 bank robbery.

People believe it was drugs that led Brown to so boldly rob 6 banks in 6 days. As a matter of fact, when she was apprehended, she was found on the North End of Hartford where it is believed she was trying to purchase drugs.

Brown never showed a gun but claims, on a few occasions, that the bag she carried in the robberies contained a bomb. She is now being held on $250,000 bail and the full extent of her charges is not yet known.

Bank robbery is one of the most serious theft crimes because it contains a threat of violence. Robbery is a similar offense that puts individuals at risk.

With general theft crimes, also called larceny charges, the charge you face and the subsequent sentence are only based on the value of the property in question. Robbery falls under a completely different category all together.

If you face larceny charges, however, you could be facing something as small as a Class C misdemeanor charge in the case of 6th degree larceny, or as much as a Class B felony charge and up to 20 years in prison for Grand Larceny.

Typically offenses like this are committed out of need. Many people see the risk they take when committing a theft crime to be worth the potential outcome. They see it as worth the risk, that is, until they get caught.

If you are facing charges of larceny or robbery, I may be able to help. Call me today to discuss the details of your case.

No Age Limit on Connecticut Theft Charges

Don’t expect the Connecticut legal system to have pity on your because of your age or ability. Sixty-year old career burglar Okasana Lysenko is again in front of the judge for new charges.
Lysenko has 40 convictions on her record, according to the Hartford Courant. She has been in and out of the Connecticut prison system for these charges as well.

Her latest charge involves police finding her leaving a Bentwood home with stolen jewelry, gloves, and a screwdriver. Because of her past convictions, the gloves and screwdriver will no doubt be considered burglary tools.

The law is no stranger to Lysenko’s ways. Captain Joseph Lasata, of the West Hartford police, states “We’ve been arresting her for years”.

She currently has a 4th degree larceny charge pending in Hartford regarding an earlier April 16th arrest. Her latest arrest has landed her with new charges of 5th degree larceny, 3rd degree burglary, 2nd degree criminal mischief, and possession of burglar’s tools.

Lysenko is currently being held on $500,000 bail.

Although most theft offenders don’t return to court again and again like Ms. Lysenko seems to, it isn’t all that uncommon to see someone appear and reappear for similar charges. Unfortunately, the more times you appear before a judge, the less lenient they are likely to be if you are convicted and appear in court for sentencing.

If you are caught up in the legal system again, facing new charges, you need all the help you can get.

Some offenses have progressively harsher sentences for multiple offenses actually written into the law. DUI charges are a good example of this, getting stricter with each subsequent count.
Regardless of what the charge is, I may be able to help. We may be able to negotiate a plea agreement with the prosecution regarding your potential sentence. Depending on the case, we may even be able to get the charges against you dropped altogether.

If you are facing charges in Connecticut criminal courts, call me today for a free consultation.