WEST HAVEN — Two New York residents were charged with insurance fraud Thursday after falsely claiming that they were robbed of more than $70,000 in jewelry last year, police said.
The investigation that led to the arrests began in December when officers responded to an Elm Street parking lot for a reported robbery, according to the West Haven Police Department.
Police said the victim claimed she was robbed at gunpoint of all her jewelry and later gave detectives appraisals claiming the purportedly stolen items were worth more than $70,000.
But detectives identified inconsistencies in the statements provided by the victim and her husband during the four-month probe and ultimately determined the robbery had been staged, officials said.
Police identified the New York couple as Eunice Blakey, 47, and Reginald Blakey, 46, formerly of New Haven. In addition to insurance fraud, they were charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree larceny.
Police said the Blakeys turned themselves in Thursday and were released after posting bond. They were both given a future court date of June 18.