Police: 'Critter cam' catches crook in action at home break-in
By Katie Curley
Staff writer
August 11, 2009 03:58 am
GEORGETOWN — After an intruder took everything but the kitchen sink from a home undergoing renovations, the homeowner got the last laugh.
Andy Beresford of Georgetown had been working on rehabilitating an old home on Birch Tree Drive when he noticed last week that power tools and some yet-to-be installed appliances were missing.
"We went to the house and saw the rear door had been forced open," Detective Thomas DeJoy of Georgetown police said. "As we were in the home, Berseford remembered he had a critter camera for hunting set up."
"Critter cams" activate when there is motion, and are often used by hunters or naturalists to track animal activity. Beresford had installed the camera outside the house to keep an eye on the contractor of the home and keep tabs on who was coming and going during the day.
"He set it up near a lock box where he keeps the keys to the house," DeJoy said. "We brought the tape back to the station and downloaded it onto the computer, and sure enough, we had a picture of the vehicle and plate."
DeJoy, noting all cases are not this easy to crack, said he ran the plate number and it came back to a Haverhill resident.
"We went over to Haverhill and spoke to the owner of the vehicle," DeJoy said. "We learned the owner lent the vehicle to her boyfriend who was also at the home. We spoke to him, and he said he had given the car to his friend to borrow for a couple of hours."
DeJoy said the man promised if police gave him an hour and a half, he would make sure all the stolen property was returned.
"He stated he loaned the car to a friend for a couple of hours and that he must have taken the car to Georgetown and broke into the home," DeJoy said. "Both worked for a painting company that had just finished a job at the home a couple of weeks ago. He was familiar with the layout and knew what was there and that it was vacant."
Among the items stolen were a wine cooler, cook-top, faucets, lighting fixtures, microwave, power tools, hand tools and an air compressor.
After a team investigation that included Georgetown Detective James Rodden and the Sheriff's Department, police were able to find the man who they believe stole the items from the Georgetown home.
"All we had was a nickname," DeJoy said. "But we found a photograph, and his nickname was tattooed around his neck."
Yesterday, an arrest warrant was issued by the Haverhill Court for Omar Dones, 27, of Haverhill.
He was charged with breaking and entering in the daytime with intent to commit a felony and larceny from a building.
DeJoy said 95 percent of the items were returned to the owner of the home, and he believes the items were meant to be sold.
Police have not charged the owner of the vehicle or her boyfriend, DeJoy said.
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.
| 
