Norfolk Family Weathers Christmas Eve Break-In

By Francesca Turchiano

It was the day before Christmas, and sometime between 8:30 and 11 a.m., Gwen and Joe Green and their two young sons were victims of a brazen break-in at their home on Litchfield Road.

The events of the day were dizzying. While Gwen Green was at work, her husband (who was recently elected to the Norfolk Board of Education), set off with their two young boys to complete holiday-related errands.

Upon their return, Green saw that the once-closed garage door and sliding patio doors were open, and he quickly realized that a burglary had occurred.

The shock of the discovery deepened when Green saw that all of the wrapped gifts under the tree were gone. Other wrapped gifts were also stolen, and the couple’s bedroom was rifled. Oddly, pawnable items, such as home electronics, remained.

Norfolk State Trooper, Greg Naylor arrived minutes after receiving Green’s phone call. His supervisor, Sergeant Robert Carr, and backup Trooper Shawn Prusinowski, showed up soon after.

The Green boys came to accept that “bad people” had been in their house, and that the cookbooks they had carefully selected for their mother were gone. But they were plainly afraid.

The premises were combed for evidence, but it was only after a shaken Gwen Green arrived home that it was possible to compile a detailed list of all stolen items. Both Greens have immediate family in nearby Canaan and Lakeville, and many of the missing gifts were for them.

Minutes after leaving the Green’s home, the three troopers decided to become secret Santas, They hatched a plan to not only purchase and replace each and every stolen item, but to have everything back under the tree, neatly wrapped, by Christmas Eve.

Sergeant Carr secured the aid of his wife, Michelle. It was after 3:00 p.m. on a day that many stores would close early. Mrs. Carr determined that phone-ahead and speed shopping would be critical. Her territory was the area’s better specialty stores, such as Sur La Table in Canton. Trooper Prusinowskiʼs schedule allowed him to take on Target, and other Torrington area stores that might need to be visited.

The replacement goal set by the troopers was fully met within hours. At 9:00 p.m., State Troopers Carr and Prusinowski were welcomed back into the Greenʼs house, where over-stuffed shopping bags, wide smiles, and wet eyes were everywhere.

The tale is not over. Those responsible for the robbery have yet to be apprehended.

Anyone with knowledge of the crime should contact Norfolk Resident State Trooper, Greg Naylor at 542-5429. A reward fund has been established anonymously as an incentive. Contributions can be made by sending a check to the Robbery Reward Fund, National Iron Bank, P.O. Box 505, Norfolk, CT 06058.