Crime & Safety

Southampton Burglary Charges Pending Against Man Arrested in East Hampton

Police are looking at Justin Bennett for 27 burglaries on the South Fork between January and October 2013, detectives say.

Charges are expected to be filed out of Southampton Town against a Springs man whom police in East Hampton already charged with numerous residential burglaries.

Justin T. Bennett, a 35-year-old Springs man, originally from Sag Harbor, was arrested on Thursday after a long investigation involving detectives from East Hampton, Southampton Town, Sag Harbor Village, and New York City.

East Hampton Town Police Detective Lt. Chris Anderson said he believes there will be 27 cleared burglaries between the three jurisdictions regarding burglaries that took place between January and October 2013.

Southampton Town police were not immediately available for comment on Friday morning.

Bennett whom police called a serial burglar, is charged with 16 burglaries in East Hampton that resulted in the loss of more than $126,000 in jewelry, cash and prescription medications, according to East Hampton Town police.

While Bennett is set to be arraigned Friday in East Hampton Town Justice Court on Friday on 18 counts, further charges out of Southampton Town and Sag Harbor Village police jurisdictions are pending.

East Hampton Town police charged Bennett with 14 counts of second-degree burglary, two counts of attempted second-degree burglary, one count of criminally possessing a hypodermic instrument, and a misdemeanor, and unlawful possession of marijuana.

Police said that based on witness descriptions of a dark colored sedan driven by a white man, coupled with information by New York City detectives who recovered a significant amount of jewelry, Bennet became a suspect, police said.

Detectives took Bennett into custody on Thursday, stopping him in a 2003 black Toyota on Route 114 in East Hampton.

The investigation is ongoing. Police have asked that anyone with information contact East Hampton Town police at 631-537-7575. All calls will be kept confidential.


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