Father-Daughter Team Arrested for Theft From Newtown Electronics Business

NEWTOWN, CT — Newtown police arrested a father-daughter team for larceny after an investigation revealed the duo is alleged to have stolen hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of electronic components from their employer, according to Newtown police.

Bethany Lingl, 21, of Naugatuck, and her father Robert Lingl, 57, of Coconut Creek, Florida turned themselves in to police on July 28 after learning there were active arrest warrants out for them, police said. Both parties were employees at SMT Corporation, an electronics business located at 14 High Bridge Road. The business owner alerted police of the thefts.

After conducting a lengthy investigation, Newtown police found that the larcenies occurred over several years and included materials and packaging that were manufactured at SMT. Police said that the exact total loss has not yet been determined, but they estimate it is in the hundreds thousands of dollars.

Bethany Lingl was arrested and charged with first degree larceny, conspiracy to commit larceny and third degree criminal attempt to commit larceny. She was held on a $15,000 bond and was arraigned on July 28, 2016 at Danbury Superior Court. She is next due to appear in court for a pre-trial hearing on Sept. 13, 2016.

Robert Lingl was arrested and charged with four counts of third degree larceny, one count of first degree larceny, conspiracy to commit larceny and criminal attempt to commit third degree larceny. He was released on a $50,000 bond and appeared in court on Aug. 11, 2016. Court records show they are awaiting a plea from Robert Lingl and he is next scheduled to appear in Danbury Superior Court on Oct. 12, 2016.

Newtown police photo