Crime & Safety

Branford Man Impersonates Cop: Burglarizes Elderly Woman's East Haven Home

East Haven police make arrest for burglary, impersonation.

After a nearly four-month effort to nail down the person who burglarized an 85-year-old woman's property, East Haven detectives closed the case late last week with the arrest of a Branford man, according to Deputy Police Chief John Mannion.

The elderly East Haven woman, whose identity was not released, told police last December that someone posing as a New Haven cop called her claiming that her New Haven property had been damaged.

The woman went to New Haven to check on her building. Meanwhile, her East Haven home was reportedly being burglarized, said Mannion.

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"Members of the East Haven Detective Division did extensive follow-up work on this case and were able to trace the incoming call and then identify the caller," said Mannion.

The alleged caller turned out to be Leonard Anderson, 31, of Branford, who is also a prime suspect in a similar case in a neighboring town.

Find out what's happening in Branfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Anderson was charged with burglary in the first degree, criminal mischief in the second degree and criminal impersonation of a police officer. He was held on a $50,000 bond and arraigned in New Haven court April 4.


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