NY Man Accused Of Stealing $24,000 From Westport Victim: Police

WESTPORT, CT — A 19-year-old Bronx, New York man was arrested on a warrant by Westport police on larceny charges last week, after authorities said he stole $24,000 from a Westport victim.

Justen Diaz surrendered to police on Sept. 1 and was charged with first-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit first-degree larceny.

According to police, the case began in January, when the department learned that mail had been stolen from a home on Northgate Lane.

"The complainant stated that a box of blank checks was stolen," police said in a statement. "He advised that one of the stolen checks was written out for over $24,000.00 and cashed. The detective assigned to this case determined that the check was deposited at a Bank of America branch and completed a search warrant to discover the name of the account holder. The account was purportedly in the name of Justen Diaz. Additional evidence tying Mr. Diaz to this crime was obtained."

After turning himself in, Diaz was initially held in lieu of bail of $150,000, but it was reduced to a promise to appear in Stamford Superior Court on Oct. 5.