2 in Custody for Liquor Store Thefts in Ellington, Area

VERNON, CT — Two men have now been charged after being connected to a series of liquor store burglaries in Vernon, Ellington and Tolland, state and local police said.

On Wednesday, Steven Houser, 28, who police said had been staying at 15 Highland Ave. in Vernon, was arrested Wednesday by Vernon police while in the lockup at Rockville Superior Court.

Vernon police said he was charged in a multi-jurisdictional investigation involving package store burglaries throughout the months of September and October.

On Thursday, Vernon police arrested Jonathan Rivera, 23, whose a last known address is 22 Elliott St. in Hartford, for the same case.

Houser and Rivera were charged with third-degree burglary, third-degree larceny, first-degree criminal mischief and possession of burglary tools, Vernon police said.

They are charged for a pair of Vernon incidents, police said.

One was an early morning burglary on Oct. 1 at the Whiskey and Wine Package Store, 1000 Hartford Turnpike. They allegedly smashed out the front glass door and stole alcohol and cash, police said. The owner of the package store was still on the premises and interrupted the burglary, police said. They both fled to a parked car at the High Manor trailer park, Vernon police said.

Both failed to post $10,000 cash/surety bonds in the case, police said.

Houser was additionally charged with third-degree burglary, third-degree larceny and second-degree criminal mischief for his alleged involvement in an early morning burglary on Oct. 9 at the Four Season Package Store, 630 Talcottvile Roadm police said. Houser allegedly acted alone and smashed out the front glass door with a rock and stole alcohol, cigarettes, and cash.

He was held on a $10,000 cash/surety bond in the case, police said.

Vernon Police worked with Manchester police, state police out of Troop-C and Wethersfield police on the investigation.

State police said Rivera was arrested on Sept. 30 for a 4:44 a.m. theft at the Fiver Corners Wine and Spirits store on Windsorville Road in Ellington. He was charged with third-degree burglary, second-degree criminal mischief and fourth-degree larceny for a break-in that day, state police said.

Houser joined him with those charges on Wednesday, state police said.

For a Sept. 30 break-in at the Tolland Cordial Shoppe on Hartford Turnpike in Tolland that took place before the Ellington caper, Houses was charged with the same three crimes, state police said.

Photo Credit: CSP