Sixteen Ridgefield High School students have or are going to be arrested for an early April party and burglary on North Street, police said Friday morning.
The teens broke into the home of a vacationing family through an unlocked bathroom window, resulting in burglary, larceny and trespass charges for 16 students between the ages of 15 and 18. Some $48,000 worth of jewelry and other personal property was reportedly taken.
Police got a heads-up about the party on April 6 through their anonymous tip line, but when they arrived they found the party had occurred the night before on April 5.
Some $10,000 in jewelry was recovered at a Danbury pawn shop with the assistance of Danbury police, said Ridgefield Police Capt. Dan Ryan.
The students and the charges brought against them include:
• Timothy McLean, 18, of Ridgecrest Road: First degree burglary and first degree larceny, both felonies;
• Steven Fugazy, 18, of Peaceable Street: Second degree criminal trespass, a misdemeanor;
• Eric Scala, 18, of South Olmstead Lane: Second degree criminal trespass.
Other students were not identified by the police due to their age.
• A 17-year-old boy: First degree burglary and first degree larceny;
• A 17-year-old boy: First degree burglary and sixth degree larceny;
• Six 17-year-old boys and 17-year-old girl: Second degree criminal trespass;
• Three 15-year-old girls: Second degree criminal trespass.
One more 18-year-old’s arrest is imminent, pending an affidavit, police said.
Capt. Ryan commended Detective Nicholas Fowler and Officer Fernando Luis who investigated the case. “They did a great job in this case,” he said.
“The amount of interviews that had to be conducted and the amount of paperwork associated with an incident like this is extensive,” he added.
