Additional Arrest Made In $70,000 Jewelry Theft In Westport: Police

WESTPORT, CT — A 29-year-old Queens, New York, man was arrested on a warrant charging him with first-degree larceny, third-degree burglary, and a related violation, in connection with the theft of $70,000 worth of jewelry from a home in Westport, according to police.

The incident occurred April 2020, and police said the suspects forced their way into the rear of the home and ransacked multiple rooms.

Three suspects were arrested that same month in connection with the crime, Franco Saladrigas-Garcia, Nester Sotillo and Aldo Athanasopoulos, though Sotillo and Athanasopoulos were charged with possession of burglary tools and possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle. The two were passengers in the vehicle Saladrigas-Garcia was driving, and police found a large knife, crowbar and other items in the vehicle.

"This turned into a lengthy investigation including multiple agencies, the use of search warrants, License Plate Readers (LPR), and law enforcement information sharing," wrote Westport Police Lt. Eric Woods in a statement. "Two alleged suspects were identified and warrants were issued for Franco Saldrigas-Garcia (arrested on April 17th 2020) and Aldo Athanasopoulos. Mr. Athanasopoulos was ultimately arrested in New York after spending time on the West Coast."

Westport police took Athanasopoulos into custody on Monday from Nassau County authorities. He is being held in lieu of bail of $400,000, and is scheduled to appear in Stamford Superior Court on March 28.