Crime & Safety

Two Men Caught Red-Handed With Stolen Copper Wire

Theft may be connected to similar incident three days earlier.

Two Boston-area men face multiple felony charges after being caught with a truck full of stolen copper wire early Wednesday morning.

Michael Simpson, 44, of Quincy, and David Grimm, 51, of Jamaica Plain, were arrested after being pulled over by on Old Boston Road.

According to a press release issued by Police Chief Timothy Sheehan, the incident began just after 1 a.m., when a Tewksbury officer on a routine patrol spotted an older model GMC pick-up truck) driving inside the gated Thirau USA storage yard at 250 Old Boston Road with its lights off.

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Thirau USA is an electrical services company.

The officer saw the truck back up next to a storage trailer. He called for backup and the two officers observed the truck leave the storage area and approach the gate. According to the report, the officers observed one of the two men in the vehicle got out and opened the gate, allowing the truck to drive through.

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Moment later, the officers pulled over the vehicle. According to Sheehan, in the cargo bed of the truck, officers found a 706-foot spool of wire and 15 350-foot rolls of wire, apparently Thirau's property. Inside the truck, the officers found "a cut master lock, a pair of needle nose pliers, a hammer, two pairs of gloves, a DeWalt flashlight, and other assorted tools."

"Further investigation determined that the gate and four storage trailers located in the Thirau yard had been broken into and a significant amount of copper wire and tools had been taken," said Sheehan.

Simpson and Grimm are each charged with receiving stolen property over $250;  breaking and entering in the nighttime with intent to commit a felony; larceny from a freight container; destruction of property under $250 (3 counts); destruction of property over $250 (2 counts);  conspiracy to commit a crime; and possession of burglarious tools.

Simpson, the driver of the truck, was also charged with operating an unregistered motor vehicle; operating an uninsured motor vehicle; and operating a motor vehicle without headlights.

 Sheehan said the investigation into the case is ongoing and detectives are looking into the possibility that this theft is connected to another burglary at Thirau on March 13.  That incident resulted in four rolls of copper wire being stolen, along with a Dodge Truck owned by Thirau.

Two claims of assault, one arrest

A 17-year-old Tewksbury man was arrested and charged with assault and battery after an apparent fight with his ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend.

The incident began with a 911 call from a female on County Road, who said her ex-boyfriend had just hit her new boyfriend in the face. Officers responded to the scene and heard a different story from the ex-boyfriend, Ryan Crockett, of 35 Arlington St. Crockett said that she had slapped him across the face in Walgreen's.

Despite his plea, Crockett was arrested and charged with assault and battery. His ex-girlfriend was not charged.

He called to report a theft and got arrested

On Monday, police received a call from 50-year-old Angel L. Mesonero, of 1910 Andover St. He called to report that his credit card had been stolen and used fraudulently by an employee of the place he was living.

However, a routine check indicated that Mesonero had an outstanding warrant and he was placed under arrest.


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