Justice Rains Down on Three Car Break-in Suspects

Three teens, , were arrested early Thursday morning for allegedly breaking into two cars overnight.

According to a press release issued by Chief Timothy Sheehan, Paul Moriarty Jr., 19, of 83 Shawsheen St., Tewksbury, Stefan Herceg, 18, 14 Pace Road., Tewksbury, and Warren Taylor, 17, 15 Brook Street, Lynn, were spotted by at around 3 a.m., walking along Wolcott Street near Tew-Mac Terrace.

When approached by the officers, the teens reportedly stated they were headed to on Main Street from a friend's house on Brown Street. According to Sheehan, the officers noted that the steady rainfall was not exactly conducive to an early-morning (or late night) walk and that the direction they were walking was not consistent with their claims.

The officers then searched the three suspects  and discovered they were in possession of two GPS units, two digital cameras, an I-pod, a Bluetooth headset, pepper spray, a buck knife, and several adapters.

The next challenge for the officers was to determine where the items came from. The answer was to use the settings found in one of the GPS units. The officers found it belonged to a resident on 94 Carolina Road. Officers contacted the owner and he was able to confirm that his car had, in fact, been broken into and that several of the items found on the suspects belonged to him.

Officers were also able to identify the owner of the second GPS unit as living at 49 New Jersey Road, whose car had also been broken into.

All three suspects were arrested and were charged with breaking and entering into a motor vehicle in the nighttime with the intent to commit a felony, larceny over $250, conspiracy, and receiving stolen property over $250.

Moriarty and Herceg graduated earlier this month from Tewksbury High. Herceg was a standout member of the TMHS track team. Moriarty played for the football team. Both me were also among earlier this year.

"The Town of Tewksbury has recently experienced several night-time car breaks in residential neighborhoods," said Sheehan. "We encourage all residents to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to the Police Department.  With an increase in house breaks and motor vehicle breaks we ask that residents take precautions and ensure that their homes and vehicles are secured."