Suspect Accused Of Stealing $150,000 Worth Of Rolexes From New Canaan Jeweler: Police

NEW CANAAN, CT — A 30-year-old Wallingford man, who used to work at Manfredi Jewels on Elm Street in New Canaan, stands accused of stealing $150,000 worth of Rolex watches from the jeweler over the course of a year, which were allegedly sold on eBay, according to New Canaan police.

Arrested Friday, following a "complicated and lengthy investigation" by the department's Investigative Section, was Pierce Shortell, of North Whittlesey Avenue in Wallingford, on a charge of first-degree larceny.

"The thefts were uncovered when discrepancies began appearing in late May 2017 that showed Manfredi’s inventory and Rolex inventory and sales reports did not match," wrote New Canaan police in a statement. "Investigation found that the discrepancies began just weeks after Shortell was hired in 2016 and continued and then stopped at near the exact time of his resignation in early June of 2017. In examining employee records and calendars it was determined that only Shortell was working on all of the days that suspicious entries were made into the store's database that coincided with the watches gone missing."

Additionally, New Canaan police examined Federal Express shipping records and found that Shortell allegedly made many shipments "at near or on the exact dates that watches were being siphoned from the store."

Those shipments were traced to an address in Ohio, and "background investigation into the address and business there found watches being sold on eBay."

Ohio authorities executed a search and seizure warrant at that address, though no sales were ever recorded for those particular shipments, and one stolen Rolex watch was recovered.

"More [watches] are being sought," said New Canaan police. "The investigation is still ongoing at this time."

Shortell was held in lieu of a $150,000 bond and is due in Norwalk Superior Court this month.

Photo: Pierce Shortell. Photo credit: New Canaan Police Department