Norwalk Man Accused Of Stealing $8,900 Worth Of Cell Phones: PD

WESTPORT, CT – Police said a Norwalk man accused of stealing boxes containing $8,900 worth of cell phones was arrested on a warrant Wednesday. Police said Curtis Basdeo, 52, was charged with third-degree larceny.

According to a news release, officers responded to AT&T, located on Post Road East, at approximately 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 28 for a report of a stolen item.

Police said an AT&T retailer received an alert that merchandise had been removed from the store safe. An employee of the store subsequently contacted the project manager of a company hired to repair recent flood damage and another worker on scene. The project manager was identified as the accused, police said.

"During the conversations, no one advised the complainant any merchandise was moved off site, nor was anyone given permission to remove anything from the safe," Lieutenant Jillian Cabanasaid in a release. "Upon officers’ arrival, the store was found to be closed due to the flood damage
and there were no signs of forced entry."

Officers responded to the address of the hired clean-up company in Fairfield. The accused was at another job site upon officers’ arrival, police said.

"[The accused] responded to the location in his company vehicle and retrieved a box containing 12 unopened phones from his personal vehicle," Cabana said. "Officers later learned the phones had been delivered to the store earlier in the week and were valued at over $8,900."

The items were seized and the investigating officer submitted an arrest warrant application for the accused, which was later approved, police said. On Wednesday, the accused turned himself in at police headquarters on the outstanding warrant, police said.

To sign up for Norwalk breaking news alerts and more, click here.

Photo credit: Shutterstock