The owner of a small antiques shop downtown is accused of buying stolen property that he tried to sell in his store.
Sebastian “Joe” Gibilsco,” 66, of 233 Chipper Road, Waterbury, was arrested by Naugatuck police as part of an ongoing investigation into burglaries in several towns. Police said they have electronic surveillance showing Gibilsco paying cash for jewelry, a silver pocket watch, which was traced back to a burglary reported in Middlebury.
Gibilsco owns Joe's Antiques at 160 Church St. Police say he does not have a valid permit to purchase or sell jewelry or precious metals. The store has a "going out of business" sign in the window.
Police say their investigation is into burglaries that have occurred over the past 10 months in Middlebury, Middletown and other communities along Route 8, Interstate 84 and Interstate 95 corridors. Police are trying to determine whether Gibilsco has any connection to other burglaries, which are still under investigation.
Gibilsco was charged with sixth-degree larceny, second-degree false statement: fraudulent intent, receiving property without proof of identification, failure to maintain a record keeping system and paying for property in cash.
He was released on a $5,000 non-surety bond and is scheduled to appear in Waterbury Court on Dec. 12.
Police ask that anyone with information regarding this incident or other thefts to call Detective Jack DeOliveira at the Naugatuck Police Department’s Detective Bureau at (203) 729-7106.
