MERIDEN — A Manchester man faces charges after police say he caused over $1,200 in damage during a break-in at the Dunkin’ Donuts on South Broad Street in May.
Police said the man is also a possible suspect in at least 20 other Dunkin’ Donuts burglaries.
Brett Johnson, 32, of 124 Borch St., second floor, was charged Tuesday with third-degree burglary, second-degree criminal mischief and possession of burglar tools.
About 2 a.m. on May 4, police responded to an alarm at the Dunkin’ Donuts, 57 S. Broad Street, and found a rear door was pried open and damaged. Nothing was missing from inside the business, according to a police report.
Security video showed a light colored Honda pull up to the rear of the building. A man, later identified as Johnson, got out of the driver seat, pried the door open and entered the building, the report said. The business gave police an invoice totaling about $1,200 for repair costs from the burglary.
While officers were investigating the case, they became aware of an “emerging Dunkin Donuts burglary pattern” in Connecticut and surrounding states. A substantial number of cases involved a light colored Honda and the suspect prying open a door and targeting safes, the report said.
On June 1, Granby police took Johnson into custody after he was found inside a Dunkin’ Donuts, the report said. Johnson told police he burglarized at least 20 Dunkin’ Donuts over the past few months, saying he wore clothing similar to that of the suspect seen in the Meriden incident footage, the report said. Johnson told police he pried open the doors and is familiar with the buildings because he has done HVAC work in the stores.
Johnson was arraigned in Meriden Superior Court on Tuesday. According to statements in court, he is currently held on over $60,000 for other pending cases. The judge set bond at $500 and continued the case to Oct. 17.