For Immediate Release

Friday, Dec. 11, 2015

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Burlington Police Arrest Three for Armed Robbery

BURLINGTON — Police Chief Michael Kent is praising the strong teamwork of Burlington Police Officers and Detectives after the arrest of three men on Thursday who are allegedly tied to several jewelry store robberies that have recently occurred in the region.

As a result of a rapid police response and diligent investigation:

FREDRICK COTE, AGE 26, OF MANCHESTER, N.H. is charged with Armed Robbery and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon.

BRIAN HURTON, AGE 25, OF MANCHESTER, N.H. is charged with Armed Robbery.

MICHAEL TALIADOROS, AGE 22, OF DERRY, N.H. is charged with Armed Robbery.

At approximately 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 10, Detective Thomas Carlson was conducting an area check near Long’s Jewelers on South Avenue in response to an earlier report of suspicious people in the store. Several jewelry thefts have occurred in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire, including one at the Zales jewelry store in the Burlington Mall on Dec. 9.

While on patrol, Detective Carlson observed a man fitting the description of a suspect connected to numerous jewelry thefts in the region sprinting from the area of Long’s Jewelers. Within minutes, he also received a call from dispatch advising that an armed robbery had just occurred at the store.

The suspect, later identified as COTE, got into a vehicle, occupied by HURTON and TALIADOROS, that was waiting in the parking lot of the Border Cafe on Middlesex Turnpike. Detective Carlson followed it until he was met by backup cruisers who initiated a traffic stop.

The three men were taken into custody without incident. Following a search of the suspects and the vehicle, officers recovered a gold Rolex watch valued more than $34,000, which was identified as the watch stolen from Long’s Jewelers. Police also found additional jewelry that matched the items stolen from Zales on Dec. 9.

Because officers were notified that COTE had discarded his weapon in the bushes in the Border Cafe parking lot, Billerica K-9 Officer Mark Tsoukalas and his partner Yak responded to the parking lot in the area where COTE entered the waiting vehicle. Within moments, Yak located the weapon, a black BB gun with silver accents designed to look like a real pistol, in a nearby bush.

“I am extremely proud of the outstanding teamwork and police work by the officers involved in this case,” Chief Kent said. “This is a fine example of the Burlington Police Department taking a proactive approach with our community business partners in an effort to deter criminal activity. Thanks to this method, we were able to catch these suspects and recover the items stolen from several businesses.”

Police believe they may be connected to jewelry store robberies in several other communities, and additional charges may be pending.

COTE, HURTON and TALIADOROS were held pending arraignment at Woburn District Court.

These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.

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