Articles Posted in Theft Crimes

Norman Miller of the MetroWest Daily News wrote an article recently regarding a string of burglaries in the Metro West area. A 24 year old Ashland man and a 26 year old Marlborough man are facing charges in connection to multiple alleged burglaries in Ashland, as well as homes in other towns. The defendants are alleged to have burglarized several homes in Ashland. One home in Ashland reportedly had $30,000 worth of jewelry stolen from it.

Ashland Police reportedly began their investigation of these break-ins after Wrentham Police contacted them about a burglary allegedly involving one of the defendants. Police reportedly executed a search of that defendant’s home on Tuesday, July 30th.

Ashland Police have reportedly connected the two defendants to break-ins in Southborough, Shrewsbury, and Wrentham. The burglaries allegedly happened during the day. The defendants allegedly knocked on the front door; then, if no one answered, they would break in trough a back door.

All of the towns that have had break ins are reportedly still investigating the incidents and are also reportedly visiting pawn shops in the area to attempt to locate some of the stolen goods.

Police have issued the two defendants summonses to appear at Framingham District Court. They will likely be charged with breaking and entering with intent to commit a felony. In Massachusetts, breaking and entering is charged as either “with intent to commit a felony” or “with intent to commit a misdemeanor.” Because the value of the goods that were allegedly stolen was so large, it will likely be charged as “with intent to commit a felony.” Additionally, the men will likely face felony larceny charges.

The defendants are facing serious, felony charges that could result in prison time. It is not clear at this time what evidence the police have against the defendants though. An experienced and skill Massachusetts criminal defense attorney may be able to advocate on behalf of one or both of the men and achieve a favorable outcome for them. However, it is not certain at this time how much evidence and from what towns may come to light against them.

To prevail on the charge of breaking and entering with intent to commit a felony, the prosecutors will have to prove that the men broke into a building, that they then entered the building, and that they did so with the intent to commit a felony. The crime is punishable by up to ten years in prison. The sentence can be longer if a weapon was used during the commission of this crime or if the person broke into the building at night.

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Police in Weston arrested four teenagers from Ashland on the night of Thursday, July 11th for an alleged scam, according to an article in the MetroWest Daily News. Police allege that a resident called the police around 5:30 p.m. after two teenagers came to his house and attempted to sell him raffle tickets in an effort to raise money for the cross-country team at Weston High School. The resident was allegedly suspicious of the teenagers when they were unable to answer his questions.

The teens reportedly had raffle tickets that they were selling for $5 each or three for $10, as well as a flier with the town seal detailing the fundraising campaign. The resident who called police reportedly bought three tickets as a way to have proof for the officers who arrived at his house. The teens then reportedly returned to his house and refunded his money before fleeing. The resident was reportedly able to provide a detailed description of the teens, as well as the license plate of the car.
Police reportedly located the teens, as well as two other teenagers, who all allegedly confessed upon being questioned by police. Police also reportedly found a roll of raffle tickets and homemade fliers for various schools in a car that belonged to one of the teenagers.

The four teens have reportedly been charged with larceny by false pretense. The teens were arraigned at Waltham District Court on Friday, July 12th and were released on personal recognizance.

In order to prove larceny by false pretense, prosecutors will have to prove the following things: the teens knowingly lied or made a false representation; the teens lied hoping that the person he or she was lying to would believe the lie; the victim to whom the teens lied actually believed the lie; the victim gave away his or her property because they believed the lie.

In this case, the alleged victim reportedly told police that he was suspicious of the teenagers when they were at his door asking for money. If he did not believe the teens’ story, but instead played along to try to get proof that the teens were lying, the prosecution may have a hard time proving an element of the crime–that the person to whom the statement was made relied on the teens’ statement as true. In other words, the victim had to believe the lie under the law, and the alleged victim in this case seems to say that he did not believe the teenagers. Although proving this actual charge may be difficult, a savvy prosecutor will revise these charges or bring new charges against the teens for attempt to commit larceny by false pretenses. When a person is charged with attempt to commit a crime a prosecutors must only prove that the defendant engaged in some overt act toward completion of the crime.

The teens are facing a possible punishment of up to one year in jail and a fine if convicted of the charges they currently face.

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A 35 year old man from Asland, was arrested on Wednesday, April 17th for allegedly stealing a lighter and some change from a car that was parked in a Shaw’s parking lot, according to an article in the MetroWest Daily News. Officers reportedly arrived at the Shaw’s parking lot in the Pond Street Plaza before noon for a report of a fight. Upon arrival, officers allegedly witnessed several men fighting with the defendant, who was being held by two other men. The men then reportedly told officers that they had witnessed the defendant going into multiple cars in the parking lot, including a Ford pickup truck belonging to one of the men. The men reportedly also stated that when they approached the defendant, he fled across the street, and they caught him and brought him back to the Shaw’s parking lot. The owner of the truck reportedly claimed a white cigarette lighter and some loose change from the center console was missing after the incident. An officer then allegedly frisked the defendant and found the missing items on him.

The defendant was reportedly arrested and charged with breaking and entering a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor, and larceny under $250, also a misdemeanor. He was released without bail on Thursday at Framingham District Court. The defendant was ordered to return to court for a pretrial conference on June 14.

The defendant is facing two misdemeanor charges. Many people may assume that misdemeanor charges will not lead to severe penalties like a felony can. However, the defendant may still be facing serious penalties, particularly if he has a record with other charges or convictions in it. If he has a record with other offenses on it, his punishment for this offense may be more severe than if this is his first time being charged with a crime. That being said, the defendant can still have a favorable outcome in this case and may avoid jail time. The amount of money and goods taken in this case was relatively minor, which is helpful to him.

The defendant may come away from this situation with only minor penalties if he has an experienced Massachusetts criminal defense attorney on his side. In this case, the crimes are economic crimes, rather than violent crimes. Courts can be convinced to look more favorably on defendants who are committing non-violent crimes motivated by economic need if the arguments are framed in a sincere manner and the defendant is determined to refrain from committing further crimes. Additionally, a skilled attorney may be able to help the defendant win his case altogether and clear his name of any wrongdoing. Either way, he is in need of an experienced criminal defender who will fight to protect his liberty.

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According to a recent article in the MetroWest Daily news, a Marlborough resident was ordered held on $20,000 bail in Marlborough District Court Thursday, December 20th. The man was arraigned after police said he stole more than $5,000 in checks from his girlfriend’s parents. The man has been charged with two counts of uttering a false check and two counts of larceny by check over $250.

The alleged victims – the parents of the man’s girlfriend – reportedly contacted police on Wednesday and said that the man had stolen checks from them and had tried to cash one of them at St. Mary’s Credit Union earlier in the day.

The alleged victims reportedly told police that they were contacted by a branch manager. The branch manager allegedly told them that the man had tried to cash the check but could not do so because there were insufficient funds in the account. Officers reportedly stopped a car in which the man was riding and arrested him Thursday.

Police allege that over the previous month, the man had drained the account. The man allegedly had written himself twelve checks for a total of $5,551.

The alleged victims reportedly positively identified the man in a surveillance video. The man was also allegedly seen passing checks and receiving cash on December 5th and December 18th.

Investigators are reportedly working with the bank to get surveillance footage from other times when the man was believed to have passed false checks. The man is facing serious charges, including larceny over $250, which is a felony in Massachusetts.

To prevail on the charge of uttering requires that the Commonwealth prove that whoever passed the document knew it was false. However, in Massachusetts, courts may consider a bounced check to be prima facie evidence that the person who passed the check intended to defraud, unless the person deposits enough money to cover the check within 48 hours of being notified by the bank that the check has passed. In other words, simply passing a false check and not depositing money to cover the debt can be evidence that you knew there were insufficient funds in the account and were deliberately trying to defraud the bank. Therefore, the man needs a skilled attorney that can fight these charges and the presumption that he was intending to defraud by allegedly passing the checks.

If convicted of these charges, the man is facing serious penalties. Larceny of property valued at $250 or more is a serious offense in Massachusetts, punishable by up to five years in prison. Larceny of property worth less than $250 is punishable by up to one year in prison. These charges can have a serious impact on his future if he is convicted. A felony conviction can impact a person’s ability to secure employment, own a firearm, or have custody of his or her children.

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A Natick woman has been charged with stealing packages off of two residents’ doorsteps, according to an article in the MetroWest Daily News. The woman pleaded not guilty to the charges in Framingham District Court on Thursday, December 20th. Natick police reportedly arrested her at 11:54 a.m. Thursday morning at her home.

A local resident reportedly said he saw a woman, later allegedly identified as the defendant, grab a package that was on his front porch and walk back to her car. He told police he confronted her and wrote down her license plate and called police after she left with his package.

Police reportedly spoke to the woman at her home, at which time she denied any knowledge to what police were referring. Police allegedly found another package in her car with another name on it. Police allege that they could smell a strange burning odor and saw a very large fire in the woman’s fireplace. Police allege that the item she had stolen off the resident’s porch that day was burned in the fireplace.

One of the items allegedly stolen by the woman was a dry erase board worth about $50. It is unknown what the other item is and its value because the victim reportedly ordered several things online and has to wait until after Christmas to see what was delivered.

The woman was subsequently arrested and charged with two counts of larceny of property worth less than $250 and one count of larceny of property worth more than $250. She is also charged with intimidation of a witness and burning personal property.

The woman posted $100 bail after her arrest and was released. Prosecutors did not ask for any additional bail at the arraignment on Thursday. The woman is due back in court on Feb. 11 for a pretrial conference.

The woman is facing both misdemeanor and felony charges. Larceny of property worth less than $250 is a misdemeanor. However, larceny of property worth more than $250 is a felony. The article does not say what was stolen that was worth more than $250. The police appear to be assuming that whatever property was burned was worth more than $250 since the dry erase board was only worth $50. If the property that police allegedly found burned ends up being worth less than $250, the woman will only be facing misdemeanor larceny charges. Prosecutors will have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the property was worth more than $250 to prevail on that charge so they may face tough odds on that element.

In order to prevail on the charge of burning personal property, prosecutors will have to prove that: (1) the property in question was certain personal property as defined by the law that was owned either by another; (2) the woman aided, procured, caused, or set fire to or burned the property; (3) the woman did so wilfully; and (4) the the woman did so maliciously.

If convicted of any of these charges, the woman could be facing jail time, probation, or fines. The woman needs an experienced attorney to help her overcome these charges. She may overcome the felony larceny charge if the burned property allegedly found in her home was worth less than $250. Additionally, if the property was burned as police stated, she may be able to argue that they could not identify the property as belonging to the resident who called police.

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A recent article in the MetroWest Daily News tells the story of a Bellingham man who was charged with larceny of property over $250 and disorderly conduct on Wednesday, December 12th following a chase through Wegmans and onto Shops way at about 5 p.m. The man allegedly attempted to steal $400 in baby formula. Store security employees allegedly saw the man load several small empty plastic bags from the produce section into his cart, then stuff 22 containers of baby formula into the empty bags. Employees reportedly believed the man was trying to make it look like he had already paid for the items. Store security allegedly alerted the police who came to Wegmans.

Police reportedly waited in their cruisers outside of the store. When the man got close to the exit, police reportedly saw him quickly turn and walk back into the store, leaving his cart behind. Officers then reportedly followed the man into the store. When the police identified themselves as officers, the  man allegedly ran from them. The officers reportedly chased him through the store and outside for a few hundred yards after the man allegedly ran out the emergency exit. Officers finally caught the man and he was arraigned at Westborough District Court on Thursday, December 13th.

The man has been charged with larceny over $250, which is a felony in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Grand larceny, or larceny of over $250, is punishable by up to five years in state prison, a fine of up to $25,000, or imprisonment in jail for up to two years. In order to prevail on the charge, prosecutors will have to prove that the man did steal, take, and carry away the property of another, that the property had a value of more than $250, and that the man specifically intended to permanently deprive the owner of the property.

There are a number of defenses that can be used when facing a larceny charge. One of the common defenses is to try to get the felony charge reduced to a misdemeanor charge by fighting the alleged amount of the property. Prosecutors must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the property was valued at $250 or more. Therefore, it is often possible to get the charged reduced to petty theft, or larceny under $250.

In this case, the man may be able to argue that he never left the store with the property. Prosecutors may face difficulty with proving the first requirement–that he did steal, take, and carry away the property of another. If the man argues this point, prosecutors may have a hard time proving that this element beyond a reasonable doubt. He could also argue against the identification by store employees or police.

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