UPDATED: Burglary Suspect Linked to Six Breaks in Two Towns

UPDATED 6:30 p.m.

Face-to-face with an unwanted visitor in her home, a John Street resident didn't panic, she called 911. As a result, a string of burglaries spanning at least two communities may have been solved.

arrested Edward James Flynn, 48, of Lowell, shortly after he broke into a home at 161 John Street at around 9:30 a.m. Monday.

Officers responded to a 911 call from the homeowner, who gave a detailed description of the man, standing in her home. According to the police report, he was described as being in his 40s, 5-11, wearing eye glasses, a blue baseball cap, a flannel shirt and dungarees.

The woman said the man claimed to be in her home to give an estimate on roof repair. He left the residence before police arrived, but the woman was able to tell police he was driving a gray, older model sedan.

Officers pulled over a vehicle matching that description, operated by Flynn, near the Foster School apartments on Route 38, just a few yards from Police Headquarters.

Flynn has been charged with breaking and entering in the daytime with the intent of committing a felony involving a person in fear (home invasion), larceny over $250, possession of a Class C substance (clonzepam) and driving after his license had been revoked.

Flynn also had a warrant out of Wilmington for breaking and entering with the intent to commit a felony, assault & battery, and larceny under $250 from April 11.

"Officers observed numerous items in Flynn’s vehicle which included two large flat screen televisions, cameras, a laptop, and several pieces of jewelry," said Tewksbury Police Chief Timothy Sheehan. "As detectives obtained a search warrant for Flynn’s vehicle, two more residents reported that their homes were broken into during the morning of April 25."

The homes in question were at 59 Colonial Drive and 33 Pine St.  In those cases, the victims told police that televisions, electronics, and jewelry were stolen from their homes. 

According to Sheehan, detectives executed a search warrant on the vehicle, which resulted in the recovery of jewelry, televisions, and electronics that were stolen from 161 John St., 59 Colonial Drive, and 33 Pine St.

Flynn is no stranger to Tewksbury Police. After a home in Wilmington were robbed on April 11, Tewksbury officers spotted an Audi Flynn was driving at the time and chased him into Lowell. Flynn dumped the vehicle and evaded capture but the car was seized. Wilmington officers were then granted a search warrant and  items taken from the Wilmington break-in were recovered.

In addition, items were also recovered from Flynn's vehicle linking him to two more Tewksbury robberies -- 12 Hodgson St. on April 6, and at 28 Euclid St. on April 11.  The property included jewelry and a television.

Flynn faces additional charges of three counts of breaking and entering with the intent to commit a felony, three counts of receiving stolen property over $250, two counts of receiving stolen property under $250.00, failure to stop for Police and reckless operation of a motor vehicle.

He is presently being held on $20,000 cash bail.