Westport Homeowner Interrupts Burglary, Police Apprehend Suspects

Westport police responded to a call from the homeowner of 28 Treadwell Avenue after he interrupted two suspects burglarizing his home at about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, police said. 

The homeowner arrived to find a Green Honda Civic that he did not recognize parked in his driveway.  The resident confronted one of two suspects, later identified as 33-year-old William Lopez, of Bridgeport, who said he was looking for a landscaping job, according to an arrest report. 

The homeowner entered his home and saw the second suspect, 26-year-old Philip Rivera in a bedroom. Both suspects fled the scene in the Honda, police said. 

Westport police officers immediately established a perimeter and monitored escape routes from Treadwell Avenue.  Officers Marc Heinmiller and Tom Casimiro spotted the suspect vehicle entering I-95 north at exit 18 and the suspects were stopped on I-95 just prior to exit 19, police said.

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The homeowner was driven to the scene by police and positively identified the two suspects as Lopez and Rivera. They were taken into custody and transported to police headquarters. 

Westport police charged both suspects with third-degree burglary, possession of burglary tools and third-degree conspiracy to commit burglary, according to an arrest report. Rivera was issued a $100,000 bond and Lopez was issued a $75,000 bond. Both men are due in State Superior Court in Norwalk March 15, police said.