Prominent Berlin Retailer Targeted In Suspect's Crime Spree: Police

BERLIN, CT — Local police have a 36-year-old suspect in custody after they said he was caught trying to steal welding equipment from a local Harbor Freight store in Berlin late Thursday night.

According to the Berlin Police Department, which issued a release Friday morning, the suspect has been identified as Hugo Mariera Esquilin, 36.

Police said he has been charged with one count of second-degree larceny and organized retail theft in connection with 14 separate larceny incidents since April.

The crime spree, police said, ended late Thursday night when Berlin police were alerted at about 11:30 p.m. that Esquilin was in the Harbor Freight Store on Webster Square Road, "attempting to steal welders from that establishment."

The BPD said officers responded to the location where, after a foot pursuit and having to deploy a Taser, he was taken into custody.

Police said Esquilin was "well known to the store and BPD."

According to the BPD, after a months-long investigation into larcenies of welders and torque wrenches from the Harbor Freight store in town and around the state, an arrest warrant had been obtained.

Police said the total value of the thefts from the Berlin store was $17,911.71, adding that the suspect often worked with an accomplice.

His larcenies from Harbor Freight alone throughout the state were over $50,000, police said.

In addition to the prior charges, police said he was also charged with the attempted theft from Thursday night’s incident.

The BPD said Esquilin also had 8 PRAWN rearrest warrants, which were served on him as well as more active arrest warrants in five different jurisdictions for similar charges.

He is being held for presentment in court from a total bond of $158,500, the BPD said.

Berlin’s investigation is ongoing, and anyone who has additional information is asked to contact officers R. Johnson or P. Kennedy at 860-828-7080 with any information.