Articles Posted in Theft Crimes

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Sometimes, the themes portrayed in graphic novels (the new name for comic books which sounds so much more impressive) very closely resemble those we see in daily life. Take, for example, the saga of the “Amazing Spider-man“. For those of you ignorant of his story, he was created years ago by Marvel Comics as the first “anti-hero”. While he donned a colorful costume and fought crime with his unique…talents…, he was considered a vigilante and criminal by many people. He was, and is, the misunderstood hero. As I tell most people that my clients are not guilty, merely misunderstood, I suppose I identify with Spidey.

We learn today that another misunderstood entity which is often ridiculed, insulted and feared is the “Brutal Winter Snowstorm“. According to the experts, while we were all complaining about its activities, it was actually fighting Massachusetts crime. In fact, according to law enforcement and other specialists, it did better than merely fight crime… it prevented crime.

Apparently, the total number of major crimes, such as Massachusetts murder, rape, and assault, fell 22 percent this year through March 13, compared with the same period last year. While Boston shootings (nonfatal) are down slightly, the need for burglary attorneys and other Massachusetts theft-related criminal attorneys, have dropped significantly.

“I think these statistics have something to do with the bad weather,” said Jack Levin, professor of sociology and criminology at Northeastern University. “To commit a stranger rape, or robbery or even burglary or vehicle theft, all are going to require, for the most part, going outside. Even criminals get cold.”
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We seem to be living in the time of the realistic hero. Last year, “Kick-Ass”, a movie about a young man who decided to become a superhero was very popular. More recently, “The Green Hornet” was revisited, now as a semi-comedy, with a more realistic feel as the Green Hornet and Kato are now average guys just trying to “help out”. And this week, we have Bosolakhana Thach of Lynn, hereinafter, “Rod Woman”.

Rod Woman was working at her convenience store on Monday afternoon, when the proverbial “bad guy”, a man wearing a hood, dark sunglasses and a knife came in. The man, hereinafter, “the Robber”) was a calm sort. He leaned over the counter and quietly warned Rod Woman to stay away from any alarms and to give him the money from the register.

What the Robber may not have known was that Rod Woman was, in reality, “Robbery Victim X Two Woman”. She was determined not to allow a third.

As is apparently recorded on the surveillance video (woops!), the Robber, after making his demands, turned his head away from Rod Woman. It was then that Rod woman grabbed a 4-foot, 15-pound iron rod from behind the counter and brought it crashing down on his wrist.

The knife was knocked from the Robber’s hand.
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Sting operations in Massachusetts are not uncommon. They are employed by law enforcement to investigate various types of crimes from drug dealing to prostitution.

Oh yes. And guns.

Robert C. Kenney, 56, Christopher P. Littlejohn, 30, and Ramone Arakelow, 34, all from Beverly, (collectively, the “Defendants”) have now learned this lesson. They were arrested last week in such an operation. They allegedly thought they were planning a home invasion in Malden with “legitimate” co-conspirators.

The victim-to-be was a drug dealer.

The victim-to-be was not a legal citizen.

The victim- to be…did not exist.

The would-be victim was simply part of a fictitious scenario created by authorities who had been investigating the Defendants. What the various law enforcement agencies (FBI, State Police and various local police departments) were really after was weapons. One of the Defendants is suspected of selling seven illegal firearms in the Boston and North Shore areas, State Police said. The other two are suspected associates.
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An unnamed gentleman was apparently going about his business in Dorchester Monday. Said business is known as “home invasion“.

The break-in was on Beaumont Street and took place on Monday morning while the occupants were out. One was at work and the other…coincidentally enough…was on jury duty
The burglar took an awful lot of stuff, including all the electronics that he could find. This would include a laptop computer, television set and Nintendo Wii game system as well as other goods. The rooms were found, according to police, . “in disarray, draws (sic) opened, closets opened, items ransacked.”

However, the mystery thief apparently left a gift behind.

His blackberry cell phone. It was found on the bathroom floor. Near the broken window.
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Well, Gerald M. Hill, 48, (hereinafter, the “Defendant”) got good news and bad news yesterday at Boston’s Suffolk Superior Court. The good news? The robbery charges against him have been dropped. The bad news? He’s going back to jail, perhaps for life, anyway.

You see, the Defendant was on parole when he was accused of robbing a taxi company at gunpoint in 2009. His prior case, on which he was out on parole, involved the participation in two 1977 killings. I don’t know much about that case, but can tell you that he had not been found guilty of Murder in the First Degree because, if he had been, he would not have been eligible for parole.

The new charges were dismissed yesterday because the evidence against him were suppressed by the court because the court found that critical evidence against him had to be suppressed because of the police’ failure to follow “the rules” of search and seizure. Because the evidence was suppressed, prosecutors said, they no longer had enough of a case to prosecute the Defendant.
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Toys collected for Toys for Tots, a program that provides gifts for children in need, were stolen from a Burlington warehouse facility between 2a.m. and 6:30 a.m. on Saturday. The 1,500 stolen toys were valued at $15,000.

According to police, the thief or thieves took only toys that were appropriate for children 8 –years-old or older and worth between $15 and $30. A container of toys that were donated to the State Police was “attacked,” but nothing was stolen from it, according to the Boston Globe.

The donation period for Toys for Tots ended on Friday, and police expect that even if replacement toys are donated, there will not be enough time to sort and distribute them. State Police are, however, collecting toys and checks for Toys for Tots at their barracks.

There was another toy-program theft in New Hampshire in late November of this year. A door was apparently jimmied and $500 of toys and clothing were discovered to be stolen. In that instance, a local radio station organized a fundraiser which raised more than $7,200 in one day alone.

The holiday season, which leads to financial difficulty for many, gives rise to what one newspaper called “the 12 crimes of Christmas.” Burglary and larceny, as seen from the incidents above, are among the crimes of the season. Some of the other common holiday crimes include: domestic violence, drunk driving, robbery, traffic assaults, car theft, hit-and-run, and identity theft.

Sources:
Boston.com, ‘Despicable theft will leave some children without toys Dec. 25, State Police say

NashuaTelegraph.com, Town rallies after theft from holiday toy program

OCregister.com, Watch out: The 12 Crimes of Christmas
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A Citizen’s Bank on Main Street in Malden was robbed Thursday afternoon, and police are looking for the suspect. At around 1 p.m., a man entered the bank with a note demanding money and warning that he had a weapon. As he was leaving, he ran into problems with the bank’s door locking mechanism and fired 5 shots into the door. He fled on foot down Leonard Street near Oak Grove. Police lost track of him and called off the search around 4 p.m. The suspect, a 5- foot-6 black male in a baseball cap, was captured on a bank surveillance camera. No one was injured.

Police suspect that this man is responsible for other bank robberies in Reading and Lynnfield. The FBI is investigating. It should be remembered that if a federal agent comes to speak with you, you need to call a lawyer before you say anything. Such agents might seem friendly and informal, but any information can be used against you later. Bank robbery is a federal crime under 18 USCS § 2113, and the potential punishments are serious, especially when the alleged robber was armed.

It should be noted that this alleged robber was lucky that his gunshots did not hurt anyone. If, for example, the shots missed the door or ricocheted and killed a bystander, the felony murder doctrine would be triggered, even though he did not intend the killing. Also, if police had fired at this suspect and killed a bystander by mistake, this alleged robber could be criminally responsible for the bystander’s death.

The Boston Globe, Malden bank robber exits, firing five bullets into door
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Middleborough police have received 12 reports of holiday decoration theft from front lawns since the beginning of the month. Among the items stolen were reindeer, lights, inflatable snowmen, Santas and a Grinch, nativity sets, and a Santa Claus mailbox.

The mailbox, which belonged to 77-year-old Robert Algier, was found in a nearby yard and returned days later. One reindeer was found on another street. Partly because of this, police have suspected that the thefts involve teenaged pranksters. Adding to that suspicion, police got their first and only lead Tuesday night with a report of two teenagers in a white car in the area of an inflatable-Santa theft. Police told a local news station that if the culprit or culprits are caught, a prosecution for destruction of property will follow.

Theft of outdoor holiday decorations is nothing new. Around this time every year, we hear about this kind of activity. While almost always intended as a prank, the potential consequences are not a joke. Penalties for destruction of property and larceny can involve fines, restitution, community service or even jail time. If the person/persons involved in these incidents are teenagers, as police suspect, they may find themselves in the awkward position of explaining a criminal conviction on a college application or at a job interview. That’s why it is important to talk to an experienced defense lawyer.

Sources:
WCVB Boston, Police: Grinches stealing Christmas displays

Boston Globe, Thieves channel the Grinch, steal holiday decorations in Middleborough
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Kyana Jinks, a 22-year-old Dorchester woman, and her mother, Prensila Jinks, a 44-year-old of Roslindale, were arrested Tuesday after Kyana allegedly left a shoe store with a pair of boots hidden in a baby stroller, which held her young child. Kyana has been charged with shoplifting. Her mother has been charged with assault and battery on a police officer for allegedly scratching the officer confronting Kyana at the scene.

A Famous Footwear (Mass. Ave. location) employee allegedly saw Kyana place a pair of suede boots in the stroller and leave the store. The employee contacted police and followed her to another store. Kyana allegedly told the officer that her name was “Elizabeth” and that the child was her niece. She allegedly said that she had no identification and that the boot was in her car, although she had no car keys. The officer, finding a single boot in the stroller, was arresting Kyana when her mother arrived. Prencila allegedly denied being Kyana’s mother and attempted to leave with the young child. The officer tried to stop her, and she allegedly swung at and scratched his hand.

Because the holidays create a great deal of financial stress for most, especially in difficult economic times like these, incidents of shoplifting tend to increase during the season. Police are well aware of that, and they are cracking down on holiday looters by assigning new recruits to shopping centers. Boston police have added 37 new officers to the “holiday shopping beat.” They are watching shoppers closely and even giving their cell phone numbers to store clerks, hoping to increase response time.

Sources:

The Boston Globe, Police arrest Dorchester mom and daughter for shoplifting

MASSCOPS, Cops target holiday looters in New England
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A Boston man was arrested Sunday morning. He was charged with breaking into a tow truck in Brighton. He was carrying a large attitude and a strong desire to re-invigorate the “Let’s Do Everything Possible To Make Matters Worse” club.

Of course, William Ashmore, 36 (hereinafter, the “Defendant”) had his reasons. After all, his vehicle had been towed and, according to law enforcement, the towing company was refusing to give it back to him.

Now, to be fair…they had a point of view too. They wanted him to pay the required fee first.

When the police came to investigate, the Defendant ordered that they release the vehicle to him. When they explained that he had to pay the fee first, he is said to have begun disparaging the officers.

Apparently, said communications included questioning of the officers. Questions included tidbits like, “I went to college … what did you do?”
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