Officers help save Christmas for borough boy

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Naugatuck police officers Jim Tortora, left, and Nick Kehoss led an effort to raise money and replace a stolen PlayStation 4 for 8-year-old Josiah Martin. –CONTRIBUTED

NAUGATUCK — Police officers chipped in to bring some joy to one happy 8-year-old after a thief stole presents from a local family.

Police received a report of a burglary to a home on New Haven Road at around 7 p.m. Dec. 23. Rakeea Martin, a single mother, reported her home had been broken into.

Items including electronics and clothing were stolen. Among the items stolen was a PlayStation 4 Martin had planned to give her son, Josiah, on Christmas.

“Naturally I felt very violated,” said Martin about the burglary. “It was scary to know that when I was not home someone was in my home.”

Naugatuck police spokesman Lt. Bryan Cammarata said these occurrences happen from time to time, but fortunately it’s not something that happens every Christmas.

“Anyone with kids knows how much Christmas means to them,” Cammarata said. “It’s unfortunate for them to be victimized like this.”

He said officers investigating the burglary, led by officers Jim Tortora and Nick Kehoss, decided to pitch in to replace the boy’s present.

The officers went to the GameStop in the Crosspointe Plaza in search of a PlayStation 4. When the store’s manager learned why officers were buying the system, they received a discount of about $50, Cammarata said. A PlayStation 4 can cost between $200 and $400.

“The officers went above and beyond,” Cammarata said.

Martin’s mother and sister had come to the house after the burglary, and the police were there, so, in the confusion, Martin said she didn’t realize some of the officers had stepped away in search of a PlayStation 4.

“When they asked me to come outside I thought they were asking me more questions. The officer told me they had replaced the console and I was just very shocked. It was totally unexpected,” Martin said.

The officers weren’t the only ones who stepped up to help Josiah.

Josiah wasn’t able to use the PlayStation 4 right away because the family’s television was among the items stolen, Martin said. However, she said, some of the teachers at Maple Hill Elementary School, which Josiah attends, donated presents, including a television donated by teacher Jodi Burns.

Burns said she was Josiah’s first-grade teacher two years ago and has remained close with the family. She said the teachers were texting about the burglary and decided to collect donations.

“Maple Hill is pretty popular for their charity work,” Burns said. “Without question everybody chipped in.”

Burns said she found out that Josiah received a Playstation, but did not have a television to play it on. So she donated a television she had so he was able to use the console.

Police are actively investigating the burglary and trying to obtain any information that may help in identifying the suspect or suspects. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Naugatuck Police Department at 203-729-5221 or the Naugatuck Police Department’s Confidential Tip Line at 203-720-1010.

Luke Marshall contributed to this article.

On 12/23/16 at about 7:00 PM The Naugatuck PD received a report of a burglary to a residence located on New Haven Road. The resident reported to officers that her home had been broken into and that various items had been taken including electronics items, clothing… and worse … various Christmas gifts for her family, including a new PS4 game system intended for her 10 year old son. Officers investigating the incident processed the scene and in the course of doing so, decided to pool resources amongst themselves …. Officers then went to the Game Stop on New Haven Road and purchased a new PS4 game system for the family …. When the Game Stop store manager heard why the officers were buying the system, the store also pitched in by providing a generous discount off the price (Thank you Game Stop!!) …The video shows the moment when officers advised the victim, who is a single mom of their purchase … and offered her the option of holding the gift until Sunday (Christmas) or giving the gift to her son immediately … as you can see in the video, she was very appreciative and opted to allow her son to have an early Christmas gift!!! The Naugatuck PD would again like to thank Game Stop of Cross Point Plaza for their help and gracious discount and for assisting the officers of the NPD in helping this family out a bit after being victimized. The NPD is actively investigating the burglary and are trying to obtain any information that may help in identifying the suspect(s) … If anyone has information regarding this burglary you are urged to contact the Naugatuck PD at 203-729-5221 or the NPD Confidential Tip Line at 203-720-1010.

Posted by Naugatuck Police Department on Saturday, December 24, 2016