Crime & Safety

Westwood Police Make Arrest for Multiple Car Break-Ins

Police arrest a Boston man for stealing items from cars in Westwood and elsewhere.

Westwood Police arrested a Boston man this past weekend for breaking into several cars in Westwood and elsewhere, Police said.

Christopher Mann, 19, of 66 June Ln. in Boston, was charged for breaking and entering a vehicle in the night time with intent to commit a felony. 

The arrest came after Westwood Police received a report on Sunday, September 12 at around 11:10 p.m., when a resident of Cobleigh Street in Westwood stated that four black males were seen running through the area and going through vehicles. 

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Upon arrival to the area, Police discovered a vehicle parked on the road with one door open, as well as an open glove compartment and center console. Nearby, Police spotted a black Nissan Maxima driving away from the neighborhood without its headlines turned on.

Police stopped the car, which was heading towards Washington Street, and made contact with Mann, who was operating the car, as to what business he had in the area. During the conversation, a local resident approached police and said had seen Mann inside his truck. The positive identification of Mann prompted Westwood Police to place him under arrest.

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After searching his vehicle, Police found a number of electronic devices, including cell phones, GPS devices and a laptop computer. All items were found in the trunk and interior of the Maxima, Police said. 

A number of items that were discovered in the car were found to have been taken out of unlocked cars in Walpole, and after speaking with Walpole Police, officers from Westwood found that residents of Walpole's Village Drive neighborhood had reported that several items had been taken from their vehicles in the overnight hours.

"Through investigation, we were able to determine that the laptop and a GPS recovered both belonged to a resident of Walpole," said Westwood Police Detective Paul Toland. 

Mann was the only person in the vehicle at the time, police said, but further investigation revealed that Mann had not acted alone. No accomplices have yet been located, and that portion of the matter is still under investigation, Police said.

There has been a steady streak of car break-ins in the Westwood area as of late, and because most of them involved unlocked vehicles, Westwood Police were prompted to send out a recorded call to residents in town last week, advising them to remember to lock their cars while unattended. 

Police also asked residents in the recording that if they have had items taken from their vehicles, to make sure they file report to the Westwood Police Department.

And while the trend of break-ins has been ongoing, Police did not conclude that Mann was behind all of the incidents in town.

"This is not a crime that's solely unique to Westwood, and this arrest demonstrates that," Toland said. "I'd be hesitant to think that Mr. Mann and his accomplices are the only individuals involved in this type of activity."


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