Suspect in 60 Car Burglaries Nabbed Via Cashed-In Lottery Tickets

STAFFORD, CT — The hunt for a suspect in scores of vehicle burglaries in Stafford ended when he cashed in stolen lottery tickets, state police said.

Thomas Edward Lazarz, 32, of neighboring Monson, MA, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with third-degree burglary and sixth-degree larceny, according to a report. He was in court the next day, failed to post a $25,000 bond and is due back before a judge on Sept. 18, judicial system records show.

The high bond was requested because state police consider him to be "a continued danger to the community."

Lazarz is a suspect in about 60 vehicle burglaries in Stafford, but it was a series of break-ins at 7 a.m. on Wednesday that did him in, according to an arrest report. That morning, resident state troopers responded to Colburn Road, where loose change, jewelry and "other property" were taken from unlocked vehicles, state police said.

Among the "other" items stolen were several lottery tickets that were not only winners, but the car owner knew the exact amounts, according to an arrest report.

Lazarz had been denying his involvement in the burglaries with poor alibis and state police had pending warrants for his arrest, according to the Wednesday arrest report. State police were then notified that the tickets were cashed in at a Stafford vendor and they were traced to Lazarz.

He then admitted to stealing the tickets and being involved in the other car burglaries, according to an arrest report.

He was arrested for the Wednesday incident and more charges are expected via the pending warrants, state police said.

Photo Credit: CSP

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