Fraud continues to be a huge problem in town according to Newtown Police Captain Bryan Bishop, who was on hand for a recent Police Commission meeting. He was speaking in reference to the recent arrest of two people for using fraudulent invoices to get lumber from a local lumberyard.

Bishop said the duo would show up to lumberyards with fake invoices made in the account of a local contractor or company. The invoice would indicate that the account was billable later, and the duo would leave with lumber supplies detailed on the invoice. Bishop said the two went to the same lumberyard four times in the last few weeks, and the latest time on February 7, employees grew suspicious and contacted Newtown Police.

The duo presented a total of $40,000 in fraudulent invoices over its series of visits. This week, however, the duo left the lumberyard empty handed — and were subsequently apprehended.

Responding officers pulled over the two as they passed their own headquarters on South Main Street, placing them both under arrest. Police identified them as Heidy Barahona-Chica, 21, of Hamden, and Galo Rodriguez, 32, of New Haven.

Barahona-Chica was charged with criminal attempt at third-degree larceny. She was held on bond with a court date of February 8.

Rodriguez was charged with three counts of third-degree larceny and criminal attempt at third-degree larceny. He was released on a $50,000 bond with a court date of February 21.

Bishop reported that none of the stolen lumber has been recovered, but the investigation is ongoing. He told commissioners both suspects were arrested not long ago in Ridgefield for doing the same thing at a lumberyard there.

“Frauds are complex investigations that take a lot of patrol and detective resources,” said Bishop.

Associate Editor Jim Taylor can be reached at jim@thebee.com.