Police make arrests in theft of posts

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Phillip Kelly
Phillip Kelly

NAUGATUCK — Police have charged two borough residents in connection with the theft of pieces of goal posts owned by Naugatuck Youth Soccer.

Late last month, leaders of the NYS league discovered that someone stole aluminum pieces of the group’s goal posts that are stored at Rotary Field. The league estimated the cost to replace the parts at over $10,000. The theft put the fall season in jeopardy, until local donors stepped forward to provide the funds.

Police announced Thursday that arrests had been made in the case.

Phillip Kelly, 37, of 288 High St., and Jamie Perugini, 35, 164 Walnut St., are facing multiple charges in connection with the theft. The two were tied to the theft after police were able to get a lead at a scrap yard in Waterbury.

Police spokesman Lt. Bryan Cammarata said officers investigating the case brought similar pieces of the goal posts to the ones that were stolen to the scrap yard to find out whether any of them had been scrapped recently. Employees at the scrap yard recalled seeing the posts, which had already been melted down, he said.

Jamie Perugini
Jamie Perugini

Using the information from employees and footage from the scrap yard, Cammarata said, police were able to develop a lead and eventually identify Kelly and Perugini as the suspects.

Police did not identify the scrap yard. Cammarata said the scrap yard followed all the proper procedures and did nothing wrong.

Kelly and Perugini were both charged with second-degree larceny, conspiracy at second-degree larceny, criminal trespass, conspiracy at criminal trespass, first-degree criminal mischief and conspiracy at first-degree criminal mischief. Perugini was also charged with interfering with an officer.