Man named as possible burglary suspect

LYME, Conn. (WTNH) -- There is some relief for residents of Lyme where there has been a recent rash of burglaries. State Police have recovered items that they believe were stolen from Lyme and surrounding towns.

25-year-old Justin Weissinger, is a possible suspect in the rash of burglaries in Lyme and surrounding towns. According to the affidavit, Weissinger was arrested in July after leading police on a high speed chase had a stolen gun.

According to police, a search warrant at a Brush Hill Road barn where he would work on his car, turned up a shotgun and rifles stolen from homes in East Haddam and Salem. Weissinger's mother was very upset with News 8 being out in front of the property owned by her boyfriend, former first selectman William Koch, saying Koch had nothing to do with this and her son will be judged in court.

"I don't want to prejudge anything," said Humphrey Tyler. "I think it's good news if they have found the right person."

News 8 has learned Weissinger, a former marine, is also a convicted burglar in California. He has not been charged in this case, but is currently being held on separate drug and firearms charges.

"We were lucky," said Marta Cone, "I mean we weren't robbed, but everybody in town was concerned about it."

Throughout the growing concern about the recent rash of burglaries in Lyme, the town has kept residents informed through its website. And on Friday it posted an update saying evidence had been seized, which is connected to those burglaries.

For some it was a relief.

Oh absolutely, yes," said Cone.

For others cautiously optimistic, a word of advice.

"I think that there will always be people in our society who want to take advantage of people who aren't home and once again the best thing to have is neighborhood watch program and have neighbors watching neighbors," said Tyler.

The investigation is ongoing and involves troopers from several surrounding towns.