Stamford Homeowner Foils Burglary, Helps Catch Thieves

Stamford's Diego Berreondo was arrested Monday morning for his alleged involvement in a late-September burglary that was foiled by the presence of a female homeowner.

"Officers responded to 166 Fairfield Ave. on the report of a burglary. The homeowner was alone when she thought she heard someone enter the house," SPD's Sgt. Robert Shawinsky said. "At first, she thought it was just one of her tenants."

According to SPD, the woman stepped outside of her home to find the source of the disturbance, and found a man standing in her front yard.

"As the homeowner approach the man, she observed a second man exiting her house. At that point, both males took off," Shawinsky said.

The woman called police, and when they arrived they found that one of the first-floor windows had been pried open. They also found two blankets on the first-floor in which jewelry, cash, and other household items had been contained by the suspects.

"The homeowner told the officer that she might know one of the suspects, and they her home had a sophisticated surveillance system," Shawninsky said. "The homeowner suggested that one of the burglars was a friend of her husband's."

A copy of the surveillance tape was made, proving that the homeowner's suspicions were correct.

Diego A. Berreondo, 22, in being positively identified as a friend of the complainant's husband and one of the two burglars in the Fairfield Ave. home, had a warrant issued for his arrest.  He is charged with third degree burglary, conspiracy to commit third degree burglary, attempt to commit a crime, and second degree criminal mischief.

He was given a Promise to Appear, and will appear in court Oct. 31. According to the SPD, the second suspect in the Fairfield Ave. home robbery remains at large.