Man Stole From Monroe Business, Posed as Rep. of Ex-Employer

A Stratford man is facing charges after police say he stole from a Monroe business.

Police received a complaint in November 2015 about a larceny from William Benedict Inc. located on Purdy Hill Road. In October 2015, the business received six telephone orders for power equipment from a person claiming to represent Mountain Grove Cemetery, a customer that has an account with the business.

Each order was picked up by a man who identified himself as being a representative for the cemetery and signed a sales slip using the name of a seasonal employee at the cemetery, police said. When Mountain Grove management received their statement they contacted the business to say they had not purchased or received the items.

After learning of the description of the man who picked up the orders, Mountain Grove management suspected an employee who had been terminated in August 2015. They sent a photo of the employee to the business and employees identified him as being the man who picked up the equipment.

Police found that the suspect, Michael Nevells, 21, of Stratford had pawned the items in Bridgeport.

He was arrested Jan. 4 and charged with third-degree larceny, third-degree forgery and criminal impersonation. He was unable to post $50,000 bond and transported to Bridgeport Superior Court for arraignment on Jan. 5.

The equipment stolen consisted of four backpack leaf blowers, two chainsaws and one gas powered string trimmer with a total value of $4,739.55.

Image via Monroe PD