Three charged in ATM theft

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NAUGATUCK — Police arrested three borough residents Friday after a landlady reported two of her tenants were trying to bring a stolen ATM up to their second-floor apartment.

The landlady of 58 High St. heard loud noises outside in the middle of the night and went to investigate, according to a Naugatuck Police Department release. She saw two male tenants, 39-year-old David Michel and 44-year-old Thomas Michel, moving something on a hand truck, according to police. Although the landlady could read the letters “ATM” on the machine, the tenants said they were moving an air conditioner, according to police.

The landlady told the tenants she was going to call the police, and by the time officers responded at 2:23 a.m., the two men had left.

While officers were interviewing witnesses at the High Street complex, the owner of Cindy’s Store at 18 May St. reported someone had broken into the store and taken beer and an ATM, according to police. Officers left to investigate the store, but one stayed behind to interview the landlady. While the officer was taking a written statement, the suspects could be heard re-entering their apartment upstairs, police said.

Police arrested Thomas and David Michel and charged them with first-degree burglary, conspiracy to commit first-degree burglary, second-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit second-degree larceny, second-degree criminal trover, conspiracy to commit second-degree criminal trover and interfering with an officer. They were both held on $100,000 bonds.

Police also arrested Kimberly Merced, 30, of 17 Bingham St., on all the same charges in addition to two counts of making a false statement.

Police recovered the ATM but Friday afternoon would not disclose the amount of cash taken from the machine. Police are continuing to investigate the incident and said they expect to make more arrests.

Special to the Citizen’s News