Neighbor Interupts Candlewood Lake Rd Burglary

An attentive neighbor stopped a burglary in progress last week, though police are still searching for one of the two accomplices and undisclosed goods taken from the home.

Brookfield Police were dispatched to a burglary in progress at 150 Candlewood Lake Road on May 30 after receiving reports from an alert neighbor who interrupted the crime, causing the criminals to flee. According to the vigilant citizen, two Hispanic males fled the house, one to their vehicle parked across the street and the other on foot into a wooded area behind the house.

Upon arrival, police were provided a detailed description of the two men that exited the house and were able to track the one suspect through the woods.

Police apprehended Michael Vargas, 23, of East Liberty Street, Waterbury, approximately half a mile from the scene. Vargas was taken into custody after Brookfield’s K9 Bruno confirmed the track that he took from the residence to the place he was captured.

Police were unable to locate the second suspect, however they are following “several solid leads," according to the investigating officer, Michael Zezza, and are in the process of identifying him and, hopefully, recovering the stolen goods.

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“This is an ongoing investigation,” Maj. James Purcell explained, adding that there was no evidence at this time linking Vargas and his accomplice to , but that the department was “not ruling it out.”

Vargas was arrested twice in 2007 on charges of burglary in the third degree and was sentenced to five years in prison, with the sentences suspended after 10 months and one year, respectively, and three years of probation. He was also charged with escaping custody (a Class C felony) in 2008 and sentenced to one year of imprisonment, suspended after five months.