Danbury Man Charged in Rye New Year’s Burglary, Theft of Audi Q7 After NJ Arrest

RYE, NY (January 7, 2026) — A 26-year-old man from Danbury, Connecticut, faces multiple felony charges in connection with a New Year’s Day burglary at a Rye residence, where he allegedly caused significant damage while attempting to steal a BMW and succeeded in taking an Audi Q7.

The City of Rye Police Department arrested Joao Caetano De Sa on charges of burglary in the second degree, a Class C felony; grand larceny in the third degree, a Class D felony; and criminal mischief in the second degree, a Class D felony.

According to police, the burglary occurred January 1, 2026, at a residence on Drake Smith Lane. During the incident, Caetano De Sa caused significant damage to the residence while attempting to steal the family’s BMW from the garage and subsequently stole an Audi Q7 from the driveway.

On January 2, 2026, at 1:44 a.m., Bernards Township Police Department officers responded to Verizon Headquarters in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, on a report of an unwanted person. Officers were advised that a male driving a dark-colored, mid-sized SUV entered through the gate after presenting an invalid access badge.

Police located Joao G. Caetano De Sa on the third floor of the Sky Bridge Parking Deck attached to the Verizon building and placed him under arrest. Bernards Township Police contacted the Rye Police Department and informed them that Caetano De Sa was in possession of an Audi Q7 registered to the residence on Drake Smith Lane in Rye.

The two agencies coordinated their investigations, and charges were filed by both departments.

Caetano De Sa waived extradition and was picked up this morning at the Morris County Correctional Facility. He was transported to Rye Police Headquarters, where he was processed on the charges.

He was arraigned in Rye City Court, where bail was set at $40,000 cash. Caetano De Sa was then transported to the Westchester County Correctional Facility in Valhalla, New York.

This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.