Gardener's son accused in Old Lyme burglary

Old Lyme - A Niantic man whose father worked as a gardener for a Library Lane couple has been charged with stealing $6,255 worth of power tools and other items from the home in December 2011.

John R. Hindman, 27, of 6 Champlin Hill Road was already serving a two-year prison sentence for a residential burglary in Waterford when State Trooper Gary W. Inglis confronted him about the burglary at the Corrigan-Radgowski Correctional Center in July.

Hindman admitted he knew where the homeowners kept the key to their garage and had stolen the items to support his heroin addiction, according to an arrest warrant affidavit on file in New London Superior court.

He was arraigned last week on charges of third-degree burglary and third-degree larceny. Judge John J. Nazzaro set his bond at $1,000, appointed a public defender and continued the case to Sept. 28.

According to the affidavit, the homeowners, who live out of state part of the year, returned home and noticed several tools missing, including a leaf blower, circular saw and power washer, along with a set of golf clubs.

They recalled that Hindman and his brother sometimes helped their father with the gardening work. Inglis learned that Hindman had sold power tools to two Groton pawn shops and that the golf clubs had been stored for some time at a New London apartment where Hindman had stayed.