Police: Crew Tried to Sell $58k Stolen Kubota on Craigslist

A Fairfield man's purchase of a Kubota skid-steer from Craigslist kicked off an investigation that culminated Monday in the arrest of four individuals on larceny charges.

The four individuals allegedly stole the Kubota — a small excavator-type machine worth $58,297.12 — from a business in Orange, Conn., and then tried to sell it via an ad on Craigslist.

According to police, the Fairfield man met the four individuals at the Home Depot in Stratford. He made arrangements to purchase it, and took possession of it that day, police said.

Thinking the machine may have been stolen, the man peeled back a sticker on the machine and discovered a marking that revealed it was originally the property of F&W Equipment in Orange. Fairfield Police detectives confirmed that the Kubota was stolen from the business.

Working with Fairfield detectives, the Fairfield man arranged to meet the four individuals to pay them $16,000 for the machine. When they showed up, detectives arrested them.

The four individuals were charged with first-degree larceny and conspiracy to commit first-degree larceny. They are:

• Stephen Verity, 23, of 298 3rd Ave., West Haven
  
  
• Nicole Berg, 21, of 298 3rd Ave., West Haven 
  
  
• Nicholas Verity, 25, of 94 Rakoczy Ave., Fairfield
  
  
• Jamie Roberts, 19, of 94 Rakoczy Ave., Fairfield  

In addition, Nicholas Verity was charged with second-degree forgery after police reportedly found he had a fake I.D. He also had three other active arrest warrants for burglary, larceny and failure to appear in court. 

Nicholas Verity, his brother Stephen Verity, Nicole Berg and Jaime Roberts were all held on $100,000 bonds. They are due in court on March 18.