Two Waterbury residents were arrested by West Hartford Police on Dec. 12.

Deanna Naomi Gordon (left) and Justice Eugene Johnson. Photos courtesy of West Hartford Police

By Ronni Newton

An observant and alert resident contacted West Hartford Police Monday regarding suspicious activity, and that call led to the arrest of two individuals for stealing packages and trespassing.

Police said they were contacted by a resident on the 1300 block of Boulevard who reported that two people, a man and a woman, came to his door who claimed to be soliciting for a cable company. Neither was wearing a town-issued solicitor badge, and the resident was suspicious.

According to police the resident watched the two people, who did not have packages when they came to his door but then were observed carrying packages. He suspected the packages were taken from neighbors’ houses, and contacted West Hartford Police.

Police said that the two solicitors were found to be in possession of items stolen from two addresses on Boulevard.

Justice Eugene Johnson, 24, and Deanna Naomi Gordon, 20, both of Waterbury, were charged with  sixth-degree larceny, interfering with an officer, and trespassing.

Both were released on $2,500 non-surety bonds and are due to appear in court on Dec. 21.

Police said that the Town of West Hartford requires all door-to-door solicitors to have permits.

Multiple package thefts have recently been reported, and police said such activity is common at this time of year when many residents order holiday gifts online and have them delivered. Last week a surveillance video led to the arrest of one suspect, and police are using additional surveillance video that they hope will lead to the arrest of other suspects.

West Hartford Police have also issued the following recommendations to residents to residents to safeguard their deliveries:

• Leave delivery instructions with parcel delivery services to keep the packages out of sight.
• Deliveries should be placed on side or back porches or in between screen doors.
• Take deliveries in as soon as they arrive.
• Ask the parcel services to ring the bell upon delivery.
• Track packages and insure them.
• Have the packages delivered to a work, neighbor or friend’s address who is home.
• Have packages delivered to private mail services like Mailboxes etc. or the Amazon Locker. Local pick up at the Post Office or private parcel delivery offices is also available.
• Use home security features such as motion sensor cameras and lighting.

Police also ask that residents call them (860-523-5203) if they notice any suspicious activity. That includes vehicles that seem to be following delivery trucks or non-uniformed individuals handling packages.

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