Animal Haven Burglar Apprehended, and Other Crime News

The North Haven Police Department reported today that the second and final arrest has been made in the case of the Animal Haven dog-nappings that occurred in December. Karissa Lane, 18, of Hamden, CT was charged with burglary in third degree and larceny in the sixth degree. She was arraigned yesterday after being held on $10,000 bond, and was subsequently released pending plea. Her next court date is scheduled for March 7.

Vincent Longobardi, 20, of Carriage Drive in North Haven was arrested January 31 on identical charges, and will appear in court on February 17.

The dogs, a shephard-chow mix and a black lab, were dropped off by the burglars at the North Haven Animal Shelter the day after they were stolen. The suspects noted at the time that they wanted a dog for Christmas.

In other crime news, an eighteen year old boy reported his mother's car stolen in December, only to have the totaled vehicle recovered by Berlin, CT police several days later. Detectives interviewed the youth following the discovery, and determined that the report he had given officials was false. Raul Avila of Blakeslee Avenue was charged with interfering with an officer, evading responsibility, and driving without a license. A court date has been set for February 24.

Elsewhere, the former manager of the Radio Shack on Universal Drive was charged with stealing over $4,000 from the store starting in October. Sara Ann Briggs, 20, of East Haven was arrested following an investigation by the NHPD looking into shortages in the business's deposits. Briggs was charged with larceny in the third degree, and was released on $5,000 bond prior to her court date scheduled for February 24.

Finally, Frank Westervelt, 41, of Warner Road was arrested on charges that he attempted to steal scrap metal from a business on Sackett Point Road in January, When confronted by an employee, the report continues, Westervelt allegedly drove recklessy to escape the scene, nearly hitting the witness in the process. No injuries were reported, nor was anything stolen, but Westervelt was nonetheless charged with reckless endangerment in the second degree, criminal trespass in the third degree, and conspiracy to commit larceny in the sixth degree. Westervelt was released without bond, and a court date was scheduled for February 24.