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Greenwich police Officer Michael Mastronardi apprehended three suspects accused of making false car repairs for exorbitant amounts of cash when a string of scams targeted elderly drivers in Greenwich last fall. For his efforts, he was awarded Officer of the Month for his "communication, vigilance and duty."
"Who the victim is, is never a consideration to the effort that we put forth in investigating crimes within our jurisdiction," Capt. James Heavey said. "However, when the perpetrators chose to select as victims those of our most vulnerable population (the elderly, the infirmed and the innocent) there is a certain sublime satisfaction when the case is solved and the perpetrators brought to justice."
In October and November, Mastronardi and the department investigated many incidents in which scammers made contact with an elderly person, cajoled them into making unneeded car repairs on the side of the road and then defrauded the victim of money for the nonexistent repairs.
Mastronardi was sent on a report of a minor disturbance Nov. 17. Upon arrival, he recognized three suspects from an Informational Police Bulletin and made an on-view arrest, which led to further arrest warrants for the suspects in four other criminal scams.
On Monday, the department honored Mastronardi for his "dedication to duty" to stop scams against elderly victims in Greenwich and bring the suspects to justice.
Be part of the conversation: have you or a loved one been the victim of a scam of this nature? Contact ahelhoski@mainstreetconnect.us to tell your story.
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