Millbrook Police Arrest Two in Connection With String of East Side Burglaries

MILLBROOK, May 14 — The Millbrook Police Department announced Tuesday the arrest of two men suspected in a series of residential break-ins that rattled the east side's Pinewood and Hartwell neighborhoods over the past six weeks. Colin Dwyer, 31, and James Pretti, 28, both of Millbrook, were taken into custody without incident Tuesday morning following a traffic stop on Lakeview Drive. Detectives say the pair are believed to be responsible for at least seven burglaries in which electronics, jewelry, and cash were stolen from homes — totaling an estimated $48,000 in losses.

How the Investigation Unfolded

According to MPD Detective Sergeant Lourdes Cabrera, the break-ins followed a consistent pattern: homes were targeted during daylight hours on weekdays, suggesting the suspects monitored residences before striking. A tip from a community member who spotted a familiar vehicle near a Hartwell Street home led detectives to Dwyer, and a subsequent investigation connected Pretti to several of the same incidents. Police recovered a significant amount of stolen property during a search of a storage unit rented in Pretti's name on Industrial Parkway. Several victims have already been contacted to identify their belongings.

• Seven confirmed burglaries between March 28 and May 9
• Neighborhoods affected: Pinewood, Hartwell, and one incident on Clearview Terrace
• Estimated total stolen: approximately $48,000 in goods and cash
• Dwyer charged with 5 counts of residential burglary; Pretti charged with 4 counts
• Both held at Millbrook County Detention Center; bail set at $75,000 each

Detective Sergeant Cabrera credited the community tip line — launched last year after a separate theft ring was broken up — as "absolutely essential" to cracking the case. MPD is asking anyone who believes they may be a victim of the same suspects, or who has additional information, to call the department's non-emergency line at 555-0147. Both Dwyer and Pretti are scheduled for arraignment in Millbrook County Superior Court on May 20. The investigation remains open as detectives work to determine whether additional incidents may be connected.