For Immediate Release

Friday, April 19, 2019

Media Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: [email protected]

Bridgewater Police Arrest and Charge Man with Breaking Into Multiple Businesses

Arrest Made in Four of Five Break-Ins This Week

BRIDGEWATER — Chief Christopher Delmonte reports that the Bridgewater Police Department arrested a man and charged him with breaking into multiple businesses following a string of break-ins earlier this week.

THEODORE KERNAN, AGE 46, OF BRIDGEWATER was arrested and charged with:

• Breaking and Entering into a Building in the Nighttime for a Felony (Four Counts)
• Malicious Destruction of Property Under $1,200 (Four Counts)
• Larceny Under $1,200  (Three Counts)

KERNAN is expected to be arraigned today at Brockton District Court.

Five break-ins have been reported at Bridgewater businesses this week. KERNAN is charged with being responsible for four of the break-ins and the fifth remains under active investigation.

As part of their investigation, Bridgewater Police detectives reviewed video surveillance footage from the businesses that had cameras and also utilized surveillance video from other area businesses to help identify a possible vehicle used in the break-ins.

The detectives circulated still images of a suspect, later identified as KERNAN, and his vehicle to law enforcement agencies in the area.

KERNAN’S vehicle was believed to be a gray Mazda 6 sedan with front-end damage, a spare tire on the front passenger’s side and a long strip of black duct tape on the front bumper and hood.

At approximately 5:20 p.m. Thursday, April 18, West Bridgewater Police Sgt. John Craven was off-duty driving his personal vehicle when he observed a vehicle matching the description of KERNAN’S car, travelling west on Winter Street in Bridgewater.

Sgt. Craven notified Bridgewater Police and followed the vehicle to KERNAN’S house at 1548 South St. He observed the driver pull the vehicle behind the house. The vehicle was registered to KERNAN at that address.

When Bridgewater Police officers arrived at the house they spoke to KERNAN. Through the subsequent investigation it was determined that KERNAN had been responsible for four break-ins in town. KERNAN was placed under arrest and the vehicle was towed to the Bridgewater Police station. A warrant is currently being sought to search the vehicle.

The four break-ins KERNAN is charged with committing are as follows:

• On Wednesday, April 17, at approximately 8:40 a.m., Bridgewater Police were notified of a forced entry break-in at Bridgewater Farm Supply, 1000 Plymouth St.
• At approximately 3:15 a.m. Wednesday, April 17, Bridgewater Police were notified by employees of the Dunkin’ Donuts at 955 Pleasant St. that someone had broken into the building overnight and money was stolen.
• On Monday, April 15, at approximately 10:40 a.m., Bridgewater Police received a 911 call from King Garden, 220 Winter St., with an employee reporting that the restaurant was broken into and money was stolen. Forced entry was made into the restaurant.
• On Monday, April 15, at approximately 9:10 a.m., Bridgewater Police received a call from a manager at the Salvation Army Family Store and Donation Center, 134 Main St., reporting that forced entry had been made into the building and that money was stolen.

The fifth break-in, which was reported on Monday, April 15, at approximately 9:10 a.m., at the Bridgewater Auto Wash, 1355 Pleasant St., remains under active investigation and is not believed to be connected to the others at this time.

“This was great police work by Detective Jake Poulin and Detective Peter Balboni, as well as West Bridgewater Police Sgt. Craven, to quickly identify a suspect and make an arrest,” Chief Delmonte said. “We also remain committed to identifying the suspect or suspects who broke into the car wash. We have many hardworking small business owners and non-profits in this community and they shouldn’t have to deal with damage to their buildings and a loss of income.”

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

###