Canton detectives arrest 3 in rash of burglaries

The Canton Police Detective Bureau announced this week the arrest of three Brockton men who are believed to be responsible for a rash of home and car breaks in Canton in December of 2011 and January of this year.

Detective Mike Lank, who led the investigation, said the probe covered five home break-ins and 10 car breaks all over town, with two occurring on Green Street and two in the Algonquin area.

Lank said it was a well-researched effort by the suspects, who targeted their victims, many of whom are business owners.

Police have charged Antonio Rodrigues, 29, Joshua Murphy, 22, and Robert Sanderson, 31, all of Brockton, with breaking and entering with intent to commit a felony, larceny over $250, and malicious damage over $250. Lank said Rodrigues has already been arrested on a court warrant, and the other two will be summoned to court to face the charges. Lank said the three suspects have extensive court histories and are known to police.

According to Lank, the trio worked together and had portable radios to communicate with one another. In several of the house breaks, the alarm systems were cut with wire cutters and the suspects waited to see if police responded. If police did not arrive, they entered the house. Taken in the breaks were significant amounts of jewelry and electronics, including iPads, cameras, and laptop computers.

Lank said the break in the case came from reports of a license plate number on a vehicle seen leaving the Fuzion Sports Club on Route 138 and the Ten X Club at the Villages Shoppes Mall, the scene of two car breaks. Police also followed the trail of purchases from a stolen credit card that led them to a Hess gas station in Brockton and later to one of the suspect’s homes, where police obtained a search warrant.

Lank offered some advice for homeowners concerning the burglaries. “Be more creative in locking your valuables,” he said. “Don’t leave your jewelry in an accessible place. Some suspects have told us they go directly to the bedroom to look at bureaus and nightstands because that is where all the jewelry and valuables are left.”

Lank also advised homeowners who have alarm systems to connect the alarm to either the alarm company or police. If the wires are cut, police will immediately be notified and will respond to the home and investigate.

All of the Canton detectives worked on the case along with officers from the Brockton Police Department.

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Posted by Mike Berger on Mar 28 2012. Filed under News, Police & Fire. Both comments and pings are currently closed.