AVON, Conn. (WTNH) – Back-to-back home burglaries in Avon and Farmington have led to two arrests.
It is believed that these prisoners are part of a South American Theft Group, committing similar crimes in other countries.
2 charged in an attempted burglary in Avon may be connected to a South American ring
Misael Palomino, 32, and Alexandria Valencia, 27, of Virginia, faced a judge Thursday in Hartford Superior Court.
“There are three people who are believed to have been present at the actual robbery,” said the public defender, who was appointed to represent them. “I didn’t read anything in the warrant that raised the idea that he was one of those three people.”
“He was not one of the suspects in the robbery caught on camera, although I accept it as a supporting fact that he was with others,” the public defender said.
Their arrest warrants state: “This group of five individuals … decided to travel in three vehicles to Connecticut on May 7, 2024 with the intent of burglarizing homes.”
Avon police said the first attempt happened at a home on Robkins Road.
“They thought the house was empty, but the owners were there,” Avon Police Lt. John Schmalberger said. “As soon as they realized that the owners of the house were there, they ran away.”
About 30 minutes later, police said he tried to break into the home on Mountain Spring Road in Farmington. In all these cases, they are said to have tried to enter through the back of the house but were scared away by the house owners.
Palomino’s bond was set at $1 million for both cases. Valencia’s is set at $500,000.
We learned from the police that these groups have come to Connecticut before, targeting homes in wealthy neighborhoods – often scouting the area ahead of time. They are looking for valuables, such as money, jewelry and wallets.
Police urge residents to remain vigilant and take precautions to protect their homes:
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Make sure the windows and doors are locked.
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Keep valuables in a safe place.
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Put the light on an automatic timer.
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Install home security cameras.
Currently, these prisoners have been arrested by the criminal court and are expected to return to court in December.
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