Police Identify Pair Wanted for String of 2010 Burglaries

A footprint in the snow, cell tower records and a prescription pill bottle helped lead New Canaan police to two individuals they say were involved in seven burglaries in New Canaan in 2010. According to Sgt. John Difederico the suspects could possibly be connected to as many as 90 burglaries across the state, including some in Greenwich, Stamford and East Lyme.

The New Canaan burglaries took place over two weekends in January and September last year. Difederico said the pair took mostly jewelry and silver, with homeowners reporting losses of between $5,000 and $80,000.

On April 14, New Canaan police issued warrants for Bernard McAllister, 40, of Lisbon, CT and Mark Missino, 43, of Waterford, CT. The two were arrested by East Lyme police in November 2010, after a search of a storage facility uncovered 10,000 stolen items, Difederico said. McAllister is being held in the Macdougall-Walker Correctional Institution in South Suffield, CT and Missino is in New Haven Correctional Center.

The New Canaan burglaries began on January 15, when New Canaan police responded to an alarm call at a Woodridge Circle residence and discovered the door kicked in. Over the next three days, residents at homes on Bridle Path Lane, Wahackme Road, and Chichester Road all reported burglaries to the police.

A similar pattern happened in September 2010, when police responded to an alarm call from a keyholder at a Ramhorne Road residence, who was watching the property for the owner. An alarm had been tripped and police discovered a forced window on the side of the house. That same day, a Smith Ridge Road resident reported his home had been entered while the owners were out, and on Sept. 19, a Stonehenge Drive resident reported a forced entry to his home while he and his wife were at a block party. 

Difederico said local police worked with departments in Greenwich and East Lyme as they investigated the burglaries. In November, he went to the storage facility in East Lyme where he sifted through the thousands of stolen goods and made the connection with the New Canaan burglaries.

“Some of the items were vey identifiable,” he said. “Silverware with identifiable inscriptions. Art work. Small things that were unique. There was a prescription pill bottle, filled at Varnum’s Pharmacy, with a victim’s name on it. Unfortunately a lot of people in New Canaan had some high end jewelry that doesn’t appear to still be there. Most of the stuff being recovered is lower end. It’s hopeful we’ll get some of the items back.”

According to police, the suspects “didn’t care” if a house was alarmed.

“They’d run to the bedroom, take a pillow case, grab jewelry boxes and get out,” Difederico said.

Most of the New Canaan burglaries happened in early evening hours when residents were away from home, police said. McAllister and Missino appeared to have watched the homes before they were entered.

“In January there was a clear indication they had walked around the house. We found a distinct shoe pattern at our burglaries in January, when there was snow on the ground. It was the same print Greenwich had in their burglary. And East Lyme as well, so we figured they were probably all connected,” Difederico said

Greenwich police worked with the department in East Lyme and identified the suspects through cell tower records, Difederico said.

In November, East Lyme police went to a storage facility they had been watching and found McAllister and Missino trying to break into a safe they had stolen, according to Difederico. The pair fled, and was missing for two weeks, before being apprehended  in Massachusetts and returned to Connecticut that month.

 The New Canaan warrants charge each McAllister and Missino with three counts of 2nd degree burglary, four counts of 3rd degree burglary, four counts of 1st-degree larceny, one count of 2nd-degree larceny, and two counts  of 3rd-degree larceny. Bond on the New Canaan charges will be set at $350,000 each. The pair remain in custody in lieu of $200,000 bond set on the original charges lodged by East Lyme police.