'Backpage Bandit' Busted Again in Milford

MILFORD, CT — The Milford Police Department has an ongoing investigation into females being robbed in hotels/motels while offering services on a website called backpage.com, police said.

This investigation has resulted in an arrest warrant being issued for Jonathan Arzu, 23, of Laurel Avenue, Bridgeport.

Arzu is accused of forcefully entering a hotel room in May 2016 with two accomplices and pistol whipping a female with a handgun when she resisted turning over property, police said. Arzu then ransacked the hotel room; robbing money, a purse, and a wallet, police said.

Arzu’s identity was developed through DNA evidence that was left behind at the crime scene, police said. Arzu was later identified by the female victim as well, police said.

This is the second arrest of Arzu who has been dubbed the “back page bandit," police said. Arzu was taken
into custody on Oct. 18, 2016, held on $100,000 bond and appeared in court the same day.

Arzu is charged with first-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery, criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and third-degree larceny. He is also charged with conspiracy to commit third-degree larceny and reckless endangerment.

Arzu was first charged back in September for a similar offense, police said. In that case, Arzu is accused of forcefully entering a Boston Post Road hotel room on July 27, 2016 with two accomplices and tying up a female with phone cord and then ransacking the hotel room, robbing the female of money and a cell phone while holding a knife to the female’s neck, police said back in September.

Arzu’s identity was developed through DNA evidence and was also eventually identified by the female victim, police said.

Image via the Milford Police Department