Newtown Man Stole Grandfather's Guns, WWII Relics And Pawned Them For Cash: Warrant

NEWTOWN, CT — A Newtown man is accused of breaking into a secured room in his grandfather's home and stealing firearms and World War II memorabilia before selling the items for cash, according to an arrest warrant.

Robert A. Gertsch, 55, was arrested Aug. 21 on charges including third-degree burglary, fourth-degree larceny, third-degree criminal mischief, violation of a protective order and 11 counts of stealing a firearm, court records show.

The investigation began in May, when Newtown police responded to a Ferris Road home after caretakers reported items missing from the residence, according to the warrant. Gertsch's grandfather, who owned the home, had been away since February because of an illness. Gertsch lived in an apartment attached to the home.

A caretaker told police an interior door secured by a padlock had been broken, leaving a large hole that appeared to have been caused by a sledgehammer. The room was used to store firearms and military memorabilia.

When police initially spoke with Gertsch, he acknowledged breaking the door but denied taking anything from the room, according to the warrant.

Investigators later found that Gertsch had sold 39 items to a Danbury pawn shop on nine dates between March and May for a total of $1,640, police said. The items included firearms, helmets, knives and other collectibles.

Police recovered eight firearms from the pawn shop. Investigators said records maintained for more than 60 years helped identify the guns as belonging to Gertsch's grandfather.

Police also spoke with a collector who said he paid Gertsch $1,200 for military memorabilia during two visits to the Ferris Road property. The collector told investigators he did not know the items were stolen and had since sold them to other collectors around the country.

He was ultimately able to recover 13 of the items, according to the warrant.

Gertsch later admitted breaking into the secured room without permission and taking and selling 11 firearms, eight of which were recovered, along with military collectibles, police said. He told investigators he sold the items because he needed the money.

The warrant also states that Gertsch was subject to a protective order that prohibited him from possessing firearms or other weapons.

Gertsch remains held on $75,000 bond. Not guilty pleas have been entered in the case, and he is scheduled to appear in state Superior Court in Danbury on Sept. 9.