A Glastonbury man accused of using social media to plan out home burglaries has been arrested in Guilford.
Guilford police said they have arrested 33-year-old Daniel Taylor, of Glastonbury, in connection with a burglary at a home on Long Hill Road. They launched an investigation after the residents returned home from a family vacation and realized that someone broke into their home, stole their car and did a lot of damage to their house.
The estimated loss from the theft and damage is more than $300,000, according to police.
Investigators identified Taylor as a suspect with help from Glastonbury police, as well as the state forensics lab and the Westfield Police Department in Massachusetts.
Taylor and his girlfriend are suspected of using social media to identify people who were going on vacation or going away for an extended period of time, according to police. Then they would do Internet searches to find the addresses to the homes and conduct surveillance to check to see if they were empty.
Taylor, who police said is suspected in several burglaries om Connecticut and Massachusetts, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with first-degree larceny, third-degree burglary, first-degree criminal mischief and second-degree criminal trover.
Police urge residents to avoid posting about vacations or extended periods of time away on social media or to at least wait until you have returned to post about your getaways.
Local
They recommend asking neighbors or other people you trust to check on your home while you are away.
Guilford police offer house checks for people who will be away for an extended period of time. Residents can sign up at the police station and complete a “House Check” form, then police will do periodic security checks while the residents are away.
