Couple Robbed of $13,500 While Watching TV

Police are investigating a Michigan Road resident’s complaint that $13,500 worth of property was stolen from their home while they watched television in their basement, police said.

The couple, in their 60s, told police they were on their way to bed the night of May 4 when they noticed several items out of place, police said. It was then that the couple discovered $8,000 worth of jewelry, $5,000 worth of sterling silver flatware and $500 in cash were missing, said Sgt. Carol Ogrinc. The couple notified police at 11:13 p.m. the same night, police said.

The couple told police that the back door of their home showed signs of force, police said.

Neighbors living in the area reported to police that they had seen cars parked in the driveway of the Michigan Road residence from around 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. before the owner arrived, police said.

According to police, included in the items stolen were the woman’s engagement and wedding rings.

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Police are investigating a complaint made by a Main Street resident that his $2,000 laptop had been stolen from his home, police said. 

The 47-year-old man noticed his HP Pavillion computer was missing during the process of moving out of his home the morning of May 5, said Sgt. Carol Ogrinc. 

The man told police that an individual retrieved several items from his home that were to be donated to charity, but that there should have been no confusion as to which items should be taken, said Ogrinc. That individual told police that he/she did not remove a laptop from the home, police said.

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Police are investigating a complaint made by a White Birch Road resident who received three HP Envy Netbooks on his doorstep Sunday afternoon, police said. 

There was no invoice accompanying the packages, which the 56-year-old man signed for without having any knowledge of the contents, said Sgt. Carol Ogrinc.

The man told police he did not order the netbooks, it is still unknown whether or not he was charged for the items, and there was an inquiry into the man's credit on May 4, the day before the packages arrived, said Ogrinc. 

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A Greenwich woman was arrested the night of May 6 for driving her car into a utility pole while under the influence of alcohol, police said. 

Patricia Maffie, 42, was arrested by New Canaan police on Brushy Ridge near Garibaldi Lane after police responded to a call from a neighbor who heard the crash, said Sgt. Carol Ogrinc. 

Police arriving on the scene saw Maffie standing outside her Honda Civic and reported that they immediately smelled alcohol on Maffie, said Ogrinc.

Maffie told police she was on her way home to Greenwich from a New Canaan restaurant, which she declined to identify, police said. 

Police reported that Maffie said she did not know how the accident occurred or in which direction she was travelling, said Ogrinc. 

Maffie posted $260 bond and was charged with operating under the influence, failure to drive right, and unsafe start/backing of a vehicle. She was scheduled to appear in court on May 7, police said. 

[Editor's Note: Arrest and investigation information is supplied by the New Canaan police department. It does not indicate convictions.]