Man Arrested For Operating Stolen Motor Vehicle

Billerica Police | MA Posted on by

On December 26th at approximately 2:30pm Officer Frank Rayne was checking the parking lot at the Billerica Public Library.  As Officer Rayne entered the rear lot he observed a black Chevrolet Blazer leaving the area abruptly.  A quick check of the vehicles registration revealed that it had been reported stolen out of Chelmsford on December 23rd.

A motor vehicle stop was conducted in the area of the Billerica Mall and Michael S. Savage, 18, of 4 Purcell Dr. Billerica was placed under arrest.  A license query on Mr. Savage also revealed that his license status was revoked in the Commonwealth.  Mr. Savage is charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle and operating on a revoked license.

BPD Upgrades Fingerprint Technology

Billerica Police | MA Posted on by

The Police Department has just completed a technology upgrade that will enhance the capture and analysis of finger and palm prints.

The TouchPrint system manufactured by L1 Identity Solutions (a Billerica company) was funded through the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.

This system will capture finger and palm prints and is networked to BPD’s AFIX Tracker system which allows detectives to analyze crime scene prints against our own database before submitting to the Massachusetts State Police. This in-house capability is a tremendous time saver as the state identification unit can sometimes have a backlog of many months.  The State Police are currently upgrading their systems as well. These upgrades will allow for more direct access by local agencies along with enhanced technology such as palm print storage and analysis.

For information on some other technology projects at BPD click here.

Car Sliced By Guardrail

Billerica Police | MA Posted on by

Billerica Public Safety responded to a one vehicle accident yesterday morning in front of 837 Boston Rd.  When units arrived they found the vehicle below impaled by a guardrail.  No one was injured.  The accident is under investigation. Photos by Sgt Gualtieri.

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Protecting Against Package Theft

Billerica Police | MA Posted on by

Online sales have increased and this means more packages left on doorsteps.  UPS alone will deliver about 120 million packages the week before Christmas.  More packages often translates into more theft. Often times a delivered package is an easy target for thieves.

BPD recommends contacting your delivery service ahead of time to minimize risk.  In addition, residents should take advantage of online tracking tools in order to keep updated on delivery times.  If you know when a package is scheduled to be delivered let a neighbor or family member know to keep an eye out for it if you can’t be home.

UPS has a free program called My Choice which allows customers to keep better track of their packages.  After registering online, you can get alerts on where your package is, specific delivery time frames, reroute options and more.

The FedEx Customer Support Center contains frequently asked questions includes helpful information regarding delivery and tracking.

If you are the victim of a package theft please call BPD and report it.

Man Rescued From Nuttings Lake

Billerica Police | MA Posted on by

The Billerica Police Department received a 911 call at approximately 3:45pm, reporting that a canoe tipped over on Nuttings Lake and that a person was in the water.  Police, Fire, and EMS units were immediately dispatched to the Marshall St. area of Nuttings Lake.   It was reported that this person abandoned his sinking canoe and was swimming for the shore.

Frank Mclaughlin of Lexington, MA observed the capsized canoe and ripples in the water.  He told his friend to call 911 and immediately drove his truck to the victim’s location.  Mr. McLaughlin made his way to the shoreline and yelled to the victim.  He realized that the man was struggling and, without hesitation, dove off the dock and into the frigid water.  Patrolman Stephen Cogswell arrived on scene and also dove into the lake.  Mr. McLaughlin reached the victim and was able to lift his head out of the water.  Ms. Eileen Conway of Billerica, MA also entered the lake and provided the rescuers and victim with three life vests.  They supported the victim with the vests and Patrolman Cogswell  was able to bring the victim to the dock.  He was pulled from the water by Mr. McLaughlin, Ms. Conway,  Patrolman Frank Rayne, and Patrolman John Harring.

The victim is identified as a 54 year old male from Billerica, MA.  He was transported by the Billerica Paramedics to the Lahey Clinic in Burlington.

Billerica Arrest Helps Solve Burlington Robbery

Billerica Police | MA Posted on by

On Friday, November 18, 2011 at approximately 5:20 PM Billerica Police Officer Donald MacEachern observed a stolen 2011 Nissan Murano operating on Route 3A in North Billerica. Officer MacEachern had been aware of an earlier alert for this vehicle which indicated it had been used during an armed robbery.  The robbery occurred at the Brite Clean Cleaners in Chelmsford the previous day. Officer MacEachern was also aware that the suspect in that case was a young white male with a goatee that was wearing a black hoodie sweatshirt with white lettering. The suspect had also been suspected of a similar armed robbery on Middlesex Turnpike in Burlington on November 15. In that robbery, a female clerk working for Dunkin Donuts was threatened at gun point for the money in the store’s register. Having this knowledge in mind, Officer MacEachern conducted a tactical felony stop of the vehicle and arrested the driver for possession of a stolen motor vehicle and operating with a revoked license. Officer MacEachern also located a replica semi-automatic hand gun believed to have been used in the previous robberies. The individual arrested was identified as Derek Colamartino, a 21 year old male formerly of Billerica. Based on evidence collected following his arrest, the Burlington Police Department subsequently charged Mr. Colamartino with the armed robbery of their Dunkin Donuts on November 15, 2011. The investigation into the Chelmsford armed robbery remains open at this time.