Authorities have arrested a suspected burglar and his getaway driver after a Branford resident saw them carrying stolen computer equipment to a waiting car and called police.
Michael Bianchi, 28, of New Haven, is accused of breaking into a home on Featherbed Lane in Branford. Police said the homeowner returned around 6:30 p.m. Monday to find her front door had been forced open.
While police were investigating at the home, a neighbor called to report a suspicious person carrying electronics out to a parked car. The neighbor was able to provide a description of the car and part of the license plate. He also described the suspect and driver.
Police looked up the car in a registration database and located it outside a motel on East Main Street. There they confronted the suspects, who admitted to the burglary, police said.
Bianchi was charged with third-degree burglary, conspiracy to commit third-degree burglary, third-degree criminal mischief, fourth-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit fourth-degree larceny.
Jack Butler, 23, of Branford, who reportedly owned and drove the getaway car, was charged with conspiracy to commit third-degree burglary and conspiracy to commit third-degree larceny.
Both were held on $10,000 bonds and appeared in court this morning.
