DNA, Tools, and What? The Strange Evidence That Took Down a Serial Burglar
Kwitzpatrick Duffany, a 37-year-old Connecticut man, has faced multiple arrests over the past two years for a string of burglaries and thefts that all occurred the same week in May 2023. His alleged crimes, ranging from gun store robberies to jewelry store burglaries, along with his rather unique name, have repeatedly drawn the attention of law enforcement and the public.
Gun Store Heist
On May 27, 2023, Duffany was linked to a high-profile burglary at Hoffman Gun Center in Newington, Connecticut. The incident involved the alleged theft of 38 firearms, prompting a major investigation. Evidence left at the scene — including a machete, a headlamp found in the ceiling and even fecal matter left on a balcony — played a critical role in identifying him. Authorities also found fingerprints and palm impressions and tools such as a metal file and screwdriver, which connected Duffany to the break-in.
A Sloppy Getaway
Police arrived at the gun store early in the morning after an employee reported the burglary. Although initial efforts suggested the suspect might still be inside, the Newington Police Department Emergency Response Team found the perpetrator had fled. Duffany was arrested a month later in June 2023 at New Britain Superior Court and charged with numerous offenses, including 38 counts of theft of a firearm, first-degree larceny, burglary, and criminal possession of firearms and ammunition. He was held on a $250,000 bond.
Déjà Vu
Duffany's 2023 alleged burglary of the Hoffman Gun Center followed a similar incident at the same location in 2021, committed by Troy Harris. Harris, 28, drove a car through the store's entrance, stealing five semiautomatic pistols. He pleaded guilty to a federal firearms offense.
Jewelry Store Burglary
Shockingly, Duffany's alleged criminal activities that summer were not limited to the gun store heist. That same month in 2023, he was implicated in two other incidents. The first on May 25, involved a burglary at a jewelry store in Mansfield, Connecticut. Connecticut State Police Troop C investigated the crime and eventually identified Duffany through a DNA match from items left at the crime scene.
Six days after robbing the jewelry store on May 31, Duffany was also connected to a planned robbery at a convenience store in Ashford, Connecticut. During the investigation, police uncovered a stolen firearm and evidence of a conspiracy to commit robbery. Duffany faced multiple charges for these two events, including criminal possession of a firearm, stealing a firearm, identity theft and attempted robbery. He was arrested in October 2024 and received a $175,000 bond.
Trail of Mistakes
As the investigation unfolds, it's fair to say that Kwitzpatrick Duffany's alleged crime spree was as bold as it was sloppy, with every heist leaving behind a trail of evidence that practically begged to be found. From DNA on tools to bizarre missteps like fecal evidence, these capers ultimately became a lesson in how not to get away with it.
References: Man admits to theft at Newington gun store | Arrest made in Hoffman gun burglary | Willimantic man arrested when positive DNA hit connects him to jewelry store burglary | Willimantic, CT man arrested when positive DNA hit connects him to jewelry store burglary. | Willimantic man arrested for Mansfield burglary and attempted robbery in Ashford: CSP
