For Immediate Release

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 781-791-7627
Email: john@jgpr.net

Joint Press Release

Police Departments in 10 Communities Combine Efforts to Catch Suspects in Rash of Burglaries

Stolen Goods Recovered from Housebreaks in At Least Five Communities

LINCOLN — Police Chiefs in 10 Massachusetts Communities are pleased to announce that communication and teamwork have resulted in charges and the recovery of stolen goods in a wide-reaching housebreak case spanning Middlesex and Norfolk counties.

Police detectives from each community pooled their resources and shared evidence from several crime scenes in each of their towns. The joint investigation led detectives to seek a search warrants for two homes in Natick and a motor vehicle.

As a result, Sean Sullivan, 31, of Natick and Gregg Lamont, 48, of Natick are facing a number of charges related to burglaries all around the region.

“This is an example of police teamwork at its finest,” said Lincoln Police Chief Kevin Mooney. “The quality of life in our towns has been improved because of the efforts of so many municipal police departments working together toward a common goal.”

Police have been investigating a flurry of attempted and committed residential break-ins that occurred Feb. 27 in Wayland and Weston; March 4 in Wellesley; March 6 in Sherborn; March 18 in Wellesley; March 19 in Sherborn; March 28 in Lincoln; March 31 in Westwood, April 1 in Needham, and April 2 in Wayland.

In February, a resident reported suspicious activity to police, and gave officers a partial license plate for a Ford pickup truck. Police were able to zero in on the suspects through motor vehicle and cell phone records.

Then, on April 4, Lincoln police observed a pickup truck matching the description of the suspect’s vehicle, with two men inside. The officer observed the truck as it drove through secluded residential portions of Lincoln and Concord, before driving toward Natick. Police officials in each community were notified and joined in the observation and investigation. Once SULLIVAN was identified as the driver, the truck was pulled over.

Registry of Motor Vehicles records showed that SULLIVAN’S license was suspended, so he was taken into custody. LAMONT was identified as the passenger. During the arrest of SULLIVAN, police recovered a pry-bar and a silver Westwood High School class ring that had been reported stolen.

After executing search warrants on the two suspects’ homes and the truck, numerous pieces of jewelry were later recovered and identified as having been stolen in the housebreaks. Additionally, the suspects were found to have pawned several pieces of stolen jewelry at local shops.

As a result of the investigation and diligent police work by the communities involved, SULLIVAN has been charged with:

• Operating After Suspension and Receiving Stolen Property Over $250 (Sudbury)
• Receiving Stolen Property Over $250 (Wellesley)
• Receiving Stolen Property Over $250 (Westwood)
• Receiving Stolen Property Under $250, Two Counts (Wayland)

LAMONT has been charged with:

• Receiving Stolen Property Over $250 (Lincoln)
• Receiving Stolen Property Over $250 (Wellesley)
• Receiving Stolen Property Over $250 (Westwood)

Investigations remain open, including cases in other communities, and additional charges may be forthcoming.

The police departments involved in this investigation were easily able to work together under the newly-signed Massachusetts Interagency Mutual Aid Agreement signed by nearly all of the chiefs of police in Middlesex County, and some in Norfolk and Essex county, allowing police officers to cross municipal borders when needed to fight crime.

“The teamwork of police detectives was instrumental in bring closure to this case and returning stolen property to their rightful owners,” said Natick Police Chief James Hicks, who was also one of the chiefs who was instrumental in the development of the Mutual Aid Agreement. “Without Sherborn investigators talking to Lincoln, and Weston talking to Sudbury, and so on, these suspects might still be victimizing homeowners today.”

“A burglary is more than just a so-called ‘property-crime.’ It is an invasion of personal privacy that instills fear and damages communities,” said Westwood Police Chief Jeffrey P. Silva. “I’m proud of the hard work done by the men and women of the Westwood Police Department working with our law enforcement partners to improve the quality of life in our communities.”

“Police in Massachusetts are more connected and working more closely than ever before,” said Concord Police Chief William Chase. “Would-be burglars and robbers should consider themselves on notice. Take your business elsewhere.”

“Residents can rest assured that their law enforcement officials have been aggressive in their pursuit of these suspects. I’m proud of the results so far,” said Sudbury Police Chief Scott Nix. “This shows what communities can do when they work together.”

“This was a good case, with many departments working together. It shows how these types of crimes cross town lines, and it underscores the importance of working together to accomplish our mutual public safety goals,” said Wayland Police Chief Robert Irving.

“Collaboration, cooperation and communication were critical to identifying and apprehending these individuals.  As importantly, the established relationship with our community members was instrumental in solving these crimes,” said Sherborn Police Chief Richard R. Thompson III. “The consistent drive by my Officers to engage our community members and to sell policing as a ‘we’ effort was demonstrated during this multi-jurisdictional investigation. I am as proud of our residents as I am our Officers.”

“Historically, communication has been a serious problem when multiple agencies are investigating a case. But this case, with 10 police departments involved, is one of the best examples of teamwork I’ve seen in my 35 years in law enforcement,” said Weston Police Chief Steven F. Shaw.

“Crime doesn’t stop at the border, and thanks to the partnerships we have formed with each other, the law doesn’t stop there either,” said Needham Police Chief Philip Droney.

The suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.

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