Billerica Police | MA

BILLERICA — Chief Roy Frost announces that the Billerica Police Department arrested a man in connection with a series of break-ins at a local storage facility.

MICHAEL PAYNE, AGE 49, OF NO KNOWN ADDRESS, was arrested and charged with:

• Receiving Stolen Property (Two Counts)
• Breaking Into a Depository (Two Counts)
• Malicious Destruction of Property

On Thursday, Jan. 30, at approximately 1 p.m., Billerica Police were notified of damage to a storage unit and an apparent break-in at Extra Space Storage, 26 Cook St.

Police discovered that several units of the storage facility were broken into by someone who pried back the roof of the units to gain entry. An estimated $25,000 worth of items were taken from several units.

A subsequent investigation that involved reviewing surveillance footage from the facility, as well as entry pins, identified a blue Honda CRV as a vehicle involved in the thefts.

Police then observed a blue Honda CRV enter and exit the storage facility later Thursday night, and stopped the vehicle a short distance away on Boston Road.

During the motor vehicle stop, police located several items that were taken in the break-ins inside the Honda and identified the driver as PAYNE. PAYNE also fit the description of a man seen in surveillance videos of the break-in.

PAYNE was taken into custody without further incident. Payne was arraigned Friday January 31, 2025 in Lowell District Court.

These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

BILLERICA — Chief Roy Frost announces that the Billerica Police Department made two arrests Wednesday in connection with the theft of a safe from a local VFW Post.

CHRISTOPHER JOHN SILVA, 53, OF LOWELL, is charged with:

• Breaking & Entering Nighttime for Felony
• Conspiracy
• Larceny Over $1,200
• Break Into Depository
• Larceny from Building

SAN SIN, 47, OF LOWELL, is charged with:

• Conspiracy
• Larceny Over $1,200
• Break Into Depository
• Larceny from Building

Christopher John Silva (left) and San Sin (Right)

On Monday, Jan. 13, around 8 a.m., police were called to the Solomon VFW Post, 12 Phiney St., for a report of a break in and stolen safe. A janitorial employee entered the building that morning and noticed the safe was missing. The bartender said the safe was still inside the location when they left the previous night.

A subsequent investigation used evidence found at the scene and surveillance footage from the area to develop information on a pickup truck that was used to transport the safe away from the VFW. Police subsequently identified SILVA, SIN, and PETER GEORGE POULAKOS, 32, OF LOWELL, as suspects. The safe was discarded in Lowell and recovered by police as the investigation was ongoing.

On Wednesday, Jan. 15, Billerica Police, assisted by the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (NEMLEC), executed a search warrant related to the investigation at an address on Wright Street in Lowell.

As a result of the search warrant, police located cash and evidence related to the break-in and theft of the safe. Police subsequently arrested SILVA and SIN without further incident. Police are seeking POULAKOS, and are pursuing a warrant for his arrest.

A fourth individual, a 49-year-old Lowell man, will be summonsed to court at a later date to face charges in connection with the incident.

SILVA and SIN will be arraigned Thursday in Lowell District Court.

These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Recovered Safe from Burglary

BILLERICA — Police Chief Roy Frost is pleased to report that the Billerica Police Department has received a $174,675 grant to fund a body-worn camera program.

The $174,675 grant from the FY25 Law Enforcement Body-Worn Camera (BWC) Program will fund the purchase of body-worn cameras, computer storage capacity, software, and more to enable a body-worn camera program to move forward at the Billerica Police Department.

The department must now select a vendor to purchase cameras and equipment from and put policies and procedures in place to guide the use of the cameras once they are deployed with officers.

“This is a major grant that will enable us to move forward with a body-worn camera program that will increase our transparency,” said Chief Frost. “We will move quickly to select a vendor and put policies and procedures into place.”

The grant received by Billerica Police was one of 10 awarded by the Healey-Driscoll Administration on Thursday, as a total of $728,892 in grants were distributed.

Since the Office of Grants and Research began the grant program in 2021, over $13.9 million has been made available to support local police departments with their efforts to enhance transparency, accountability, and police-community relations through the adoption and expansion of body-worn camera programs.

“This grant program has been instrumental in helping local police departments equip officers with body-worn cameras, a vital tool for enhancing investigations and building trust with the community,” said Gov. Maura Healey. “By continuing to offer opportunities for departments to secure funding, we are ensuring more officers have access to this essential technology and enhancing public safety across the state.

Wearing body cameras demonstrates departments’ commitment to transparency and accountability and helps improve policing practices so that officers may better serve their communities.”

Research done by the Bureau of Justice Assistance suggests that implementing BWCs has led to reductions in crime, police-generated incidents, assaults against police officers, and complaints against police officers in certain communities.