Suspected Fairfield Jewelry Thief Arrested By Fairfield Police

FAIRFIELD, CT — A 30-year-old man was arrested by Fairfield police last week, after authorities said he tried to break into Lenox Jewelers on Black Rock Turnpike.

Juan J. Aviles, who Fairfield police said is homeless but had been staying in Bridgeport, was charged with criminal attempt at first-degree burglary following the Dec. 3 incident.

Police said Aviles is also a suspect in the theft of $56,000 worth of jewelry from the store in late November, and detectives are seeking a warrant for his arrest in that crime.

In the Dec. 7 incident, Fairfield police were tailing a vehicle that Aviles was driving, and followed it to the jewelry store parking lot just after midnight. The vehicle drove to the rear of the store, and Aviles was arrested before he could break in.

In the Nov. 29 incident, in which the thousands of dollars worth of jewelry was stolen, an officer was dispatched to the store at about 11:30 p.m. after a front window was smashed.

"When an Officer arrived on scene, he located a vehicle exiting the parking lot of Lenox Jewelers," Fairfield Police Lt. Edward Nook wrote in a statement. "The Officer was unable to stop the vehicle as it fled at a high rate of speed. Officers confirmed that a burglary in fact just occurred."

Following that encounter, police were able to identify the vehicle, which led to Aviles arrest several days later.

In addition to the attempted burglary charge, Aviles was also charged with interfering with police/resisting, and misuse of plates.

Aviles is currently being held in lieu of bail of $250,000, and is scheduled to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court on Dec. 22.