Officers Make Six Significant Car Break Arrests
Boston Police officers in District C-6 (South Boston) are cracking down on incidents regarding Larceny from Motor Vehicle. So far in 2011, officers have received 49 reports of larceny from motor vehicle. In recent weeks, officers have arrested six suspects believed to be responsible for many of the incidents.
The Boston Police would like to take this opportunity to remind residents and visitors to our City that motor vehicle breaks are among the most easily preventable of crimes. They are typically crimes of opportunity, committed by thieves who look for valuables left unattended. Taking a few simple steps can often discourage these thieves. Here’s how you can protect yourself against motor vehicle breaks.
Anyone with information regarding similar incidents should contact the C-6 detectives at (617) 343-4742. Community members wishing to aid this investigation anonymously can call the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1(800) 494-TIPS or text the word ‘TIP’ to CRIME (27463). The Boston Police Department is only interested in what you know, not who you are.
Arrest Incident Descriptions:
- About 12:23am on Saturday February 19, 2011 Officer’s responded to a r/c for three white males wearing black coat and grey hooded sweat shirts, trying to open various vehicle doors in the school parking lot at 95 G Street. Previous calls at E sixth an M Street were also describing three w/ms starting fights in the area with residents after they were observed trying door handles, three suspects were wearing black, gray and red hooded sweat shirts coats. On arrival, Officer’s while searching school parking lot area observed a w/m wearing a black coat coming from around the corner where the vehicles were parked in the lot. Officer then conducted a threshold inquiry on w/m later identified as the suspect. Officer observed the suspect’s coat was bulky and he appeared to be nervous. Officer could also sell a strong odor of alcoholic beverage emanating from the suspect’s breath. The suspect stated he was coming from his girlfriend\’s house. Officer’s went to the location where the suspect was coming from and found a vehicle which appeared to be ransacked, open glove box with various items scattered about and unlocked door on passenger side. Officers also observed fresh foot prints that appeared to be boot prints in the snow covered lot that was by the vehicles passenger door. Officers conducted a search of the suspect and found the above listed items two GPS, one (GPS tomtom came back to H Street So Boston) a Samsung Phone, chargers on his person. The suspect stated \”it\’s not mine\”. The suspect was placed into custody for B&E M/V night time, receiving stolen property trespassing on school property. While en route to the station Officers were also investigating two individuals for a fight call at 217 K Street, suspects matched the description from two previous calls at E 6th Street and M Street for trying door handles and fighting with residents. Suspects ran from officer into alley at 214 K Street officer twisted her ankle. The suspects were stopped and appeared to be intoxicated. Those two suspects were released due to lack of witness identification.
- About 1:15am on Saturday, February 12, 2011, officers responded to a radio call for two males attempting to break into cars. As officers were driving to the scene, a description was broadcasted over the Boston Police radio. It was also stated that the suspects were walking on L Street headed towards M Street Park. Several seconds later, Officers, observed two individuals who fit the description. The witness stated that he was in his apartment and looked out his window and observed two white males attempting to open car doors as they walked along the street. Witness stated that one male was wearing a dark colored hooded sweatshirt, and the second male was wearing a gray hooded sweat shirt. Witness stated to officers that he observed the male in the dark colored sweat shirt enter a car in front of E 5th. Witness stated that the male in the gray sweatshirt, came over to the car and began rummaging through the trunk of the motor vehicle. Officers responded to the scene and set up the identification process. The witness positively identified the suspects as the two individuals who broke into the car. One suspect at the time of arrest was wearing a dark colored hooded sweat shirt and the other suspect was wearing a gray sweat shirt. The suspect was placed into custody and transported to District 4. The suspect was charged with B&E motor vehicle and possession of burglarious tools. The second suspect was taken into custody and transported to District 6 with out incident. Juvenile probation was notified and the suspect was released to his father.
- At about 2:53pm on Wednesday February 9, 2011, officers responded to a radio call for a victim who was holding a suspect who he had caught breaking into his vehicle. On arrival, officers observed the caller standing next to the suspect. The caller stated that while he was working in a house at Columbia Rd, he looked out at his van, which was parked in the lot behind that address. He noticed that the rear door to the van was wide open, and he knew that he had locked the vehicle. He went outside and discovered the suspect inside the van. He asked the suspect what he was doing and the suspect stated “I\’m looking for some tape for the windows.” When the victim replied “no you\’re not” the suspect stated “I\’m trying to get warm.” The victim then informed the suspect that he had seen him going through the tool drawers in the van. The suspect then stated “I\’m strung out on heroin, give me a break. And I was only going to take enough to sell something to get high.” The victim then asked the suspect to remain next to the van while the victim checked to see if anything was missing. The suspect then jumped over the adjacent fence, and ran out onto Columbia Rd. The victim chased him and apprehended him in front of H St. Officer returned to the van with the caller and he stated that he did not believe that anything was missing from the vehicle, but he stated that rear door panel had been damaged by the suspect. Officer observed the inside panel had been knocked off, but it was unclear exactly how the suspect had gained entrance to that door. The suspect was placed under arrest and transported to D4. After being booked, the suspect was transported by American Ambulance to Boston Medical Center for treatment of a laceration to his right elbow which possibly occurred while struggling with the victim after he was apprehended.
- About 5:18am on February 5, 2011, officers responded to a radio call for a person trying car doors at E 5th St/I St. While enroute, officers were advised by Operations that the suspect was described by the 911 caller as a white male wearing a white or grey hoodie and was carrying a trash bag. Officers began a search of the area for the above described suspect. At approximately 5:45am, officer observed the suspect at 430 E 8th St. It should be noted that the suspect is a white male and wearing a grey hoodie. Officer conducted a threshold inquiry of the suspect and then allowed him to leave. As the suspect was leaving an independent witness approached Officer and made an unsolicited identification of the suspect stating, \”That\’s him. He\’s the one breaking into cars.\” Officer had the witness get into his cruiser and turned around. By the time officer turned his cruiser around the suspect was now running at a full sprint down E 8th St toward the Old Colony Development. Officer stopped the suspect in front of 356 E 8th St. the suspect stated that he had observed the suspect trying and opening car doors on E 8th St. Officers placed the suspect in custody and discovered two GPS devices and a large amount of change in his bag. The suspect was also carrying a large ceramic frog which the witness identified as coming off of a porch on E 8th St. Officers turned on the Magellan GPS and utilizing the \”Home\” function discovered it belonged to an address on E 5th St. Officers went to 601 E 5th St and met the victim the suspect who stated that she had left her car door unlocked and her Magellan GPS, phone charger and some NH State toll tokens were missing. It should be noted that officers did find all of the above items and the NH tokens mixed in with the change that was in the bag that the suspect the suspect was carrying. The suspect charged with B&E M/V Nighttime, Receiving Stolen Property and Larceny Over $250. While at the booking desk Officer asked the suspect, \”Do you work.\” This is a standard question that is asked during the booking process. The suspect replied, \”I wouldn\’t be stealing if I was working.\”
- About 12:17am on Thursday February 3, 2011, officers responded to a radio call for Crime in Progress at 7 Ellery St, South Boston. Officers were advised that two males were together breaking into vehicles. Upon arrival officers began to search the area for possible suspects. Officers were then provided a description of one male (white male, 30\’s, blue sweatshirt w/white lettering) walking down Dexter St. The Officer’s observed a suspect matching that description, later identified as the suspect, at Dexter St/Dorchester Ave moments later. The suspect was detained and was brought back to the scene for identification. Officers met with the caller/witness. The witness then positively identified the suspect and stated in his own words \”Ya that\’s him…definitely him\”. The witness then directed officers to the parking lot and pointed out a Jeep Cherokee. He advised officers that he observed the other suspect enter that m/v. Officers then ran over to the Jeep and observed someone inside. Officers then placed that suspect under arrest. There were no signs of forced entry to the Jeep. Officers could not reach the owner of the motor vehicle at that time. Officers then interviewed the witness. He stated he was in the parking lot of the VFW plowing. He stated he then observed the two suspects enter the parking lot which was fenced in. He stated upon entering the lot they began looking into various vehicles while trying to open the doors to each. He stated once they observed him they separated and that\’s when the suspect entered the Jeep and the suspect fled down Dexter St. He advised officers that vehicles had been broken into in the past. Search incident to arrest revealed that suspect the suspect had a small black bag containing various tools (hammer, screw drivers, wrenches, etc.) in the black backpack he was carrying. One suspect charged Attempted Breaking & Entering Motor Vehicle, Possession Burglarious Tools, and Trespassing. The other suspect was charged Entering without Breaking Motor Vehicle Night Time and Trespassing.
Prevention Tips:
• DO NOT LEAVE VALUABLES IN YOUR CAR WHERE OTHERS CAN SEE THEM. Valuable items, such as your laptop, iPod, etc. should never be left in the front or back seat of your vehicle. Always take your valuables with you, or move them into the trunk.
• Lock your doors and windows. Even if your window is only slightly open, it makes your car an easier target for thieves. A thief will insert a wire into a slightly open window to pop up the door lock.
• Replace your standard door lock buttons with tapered ones. Tapered door lock buttons make it more difficult for a thief to hook a wire or device onto the door lock button to pop it open.
• Invest in an anti-theft device. When you buy a new or used car, checking to see if it has an anti-theft device is as important as checking the engine. If there isn’t one, you should have one installed.
• If you observe any unusual activity or observe a car theft or a break-in, call 911.