Have You Seen This Thief?

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Northborough Police.

Have you seen these people? Each week, Patch features a different outstanding criminal case from a local police department. All information is courtesy of MassMostWanted.com. Theft - Case No.  100042 Jan. 17, 2010 St. Bernadette's Church in Northborough. Case Details: Northborough Police tell Mass Most Wanted that during the 11 a.m. Mass at St. Bernadette's Church, someone smashed a car window with a rock. The suspect then stole a number of valuables. "The suspect is wanted for questioning regarding recent breaks. The suspect may possibly be operating a silver Toyota pick-up truck," police said. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Northborough Police at 508-393-1515.

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Two More Businesses Suffer Overnight Break-Ins

Two Northborough businesses were targeted on Thursday night.

Less than two weeks ago, and less than a half a mile away, a similar break-in at New England Tire occurred. Now, Northborough Police are reporting that two more businesses were targeted sometime during Thursday night or early Friday morning. Great American Cleaners and Hats Off Barber Shop, both located on West Main Street suffered break-ins. The suspect smashed the front door at both locations and targeted the cash registers. The matter is under investigation.

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Flare Gun Goes Off in Walmart, Subject Takes Off

Police try to find a subject who discharged a flare gun in the store.

Police are searching for a man who discharged a flare gun in Walmart on Sunday. At around 6 p.m. on Sunday, Northborough police were called to Walmart, where an unidentified man had opened a flare gun package in the store. The flare gun discharged in the store, said police, and the man told employees that he "wanted to see if it worked." While employees responded to extinguishing the flare and some paper towels that were singed, as well as the ensuing commotion, the man left the store. The incident is under investigation and efforts are being made to identify the subject involved, said police.  "Fortunately, there were no injuries," said Lt. Bill Lyver.

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Apartment on South Latest Break-In Target

On Monday, residents returned home to find someone had stolen their belongings.

On Wednesday, March 20, residents returned to find that someone had broken into their apartment that evening. Police responded at 10:34 p.m. to 1 South St., where the residents had left their apartment around 7 p.m. Sgt. Det. Brian Griffin of the Northborough Police Department said that electronics were the targeted items, and the suspects had forced their way into the locked residence. The matter is under investigation.

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Drug Sniffing Dogs Search Algonquin

Local police and the state police bring in the K-9 unit to the high school.

The following information was submitted by Northborough Police Chief Mark Leahy On Thursday morning, March 14, members of the Northborough Police Department, assisted by members of the Massachusetts State Police K-9 Unit and Southborough Police Departments will conduct a search of Algonquin Regional High School for illegal drugs. State Police narcotics detection canines will search the interior of the school and the vehicles parked in the school parking lots. The search is expected to begin at 9 a.m. and conclude by 11 a.m. Any illegal drugs found will result in a criminal prosecution in addition to any school administrative actions. This is the first use of drug dogs at Algonquin, and came after thoughtful conversations between police and…

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Cops: Man Pulled Knife on Senior Citizen in Fit of Road Rage

A man has been charged with assault in an incident involving a knife in Northborough.

A Millbury man faces assault charges after allegedly brandishing a knife on a North Grafton man during a road rage incident Monday on Route 20 near Shops Way in Northborough. Donald Russell, 4 Elm Ct., Millbury, was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon on a person over 65, and disorderly conduct. According to a report, police say Russell followed a driver to the lights at the intersection of Shops Way and Southwest Cutoff after he was cut off on Route 20. The victim, who is from North Grafton, said Russell pulled up alongside his car, made some gestures toward him and then brandished a long, silver knife at him and his passengers. The victim said he pulled onto Shops way because "he was not sure what the operator intended to do." …

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Housebreaks Continue: Cops Following Leads

Police suspect Thursday's break-in on Ball Street is related to other housebreaks that have occurred within the past month.

Police responded to another house break on Thursday with thieves again targeting jewelry. The incident happened between 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. at 38 Ball St., which is located at the intersection of Ball Street and Woodstone Road (where the lower entrance faces). Suspects forced their way into the back door of the house, taking jewelry and silverware, said police.  "This appears similar to the breaks we were experiencing in January and we do feel they might be connected," said Det. Sgt. Brian Griffin. "After the suspects left the house, footprints in the snow suggest that the suspect ran down the side of the yard to corner of Woodstone where most likely a car was waiting for them." Northborough police are asking anyone from the Woodstone …

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Police Notes

Police Log: Warrant Sought for Physical Domestic Incident

The following information was supplied by the Northborough police department. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.

Incidents, Saturday, Feb. 2 8:06 a.m.: Assist FD with oven fire at residence on Brewer Street. Report for elder services to follow. 12:08 p.m.: Assist ambulance with medical call on Stirrup Brook Lane 1:20 p.m.: Two-car non injury crash, Southwest Cutoff 2:57 p.m.: Report of physical domestic, Green Street. Arrest warrant to be sought for male suspect. 4:04 p.m.: Shrewsbury PD contacted to respond to MVA, no injuries, Southwest Cutoff 5:57 p.m.: Medical call, West Main Street 7:25 p.m.: Minor 2 car MVA, Southwest Cutoff. Officer requested for paper exchange. MA 886WD8 and MA 66XR92. 7:41 p.m.: Medical call, Village Drive      Don't miss a beat in Northborough. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter, like us on Facebook, and follow us on …

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Snapchat: Social Distraction or Sexting Danger?

The new smartphone app allows people to share photos that delete themselves automatically.

Snapchat, an up and coming mobile app, is the latest form of socializing among teens and tweens. As is the case with other social media, however, there exists the opportunity for abuse: and Snapchat is already on some area law enforcement agencies' radar. As one CNN technology writer noted, the app is most commonly associated with sexting. While detectives are aware of the Snapchat app at the Northborough Police Department, there have been no cases associated with it in town as of yet. Still, Det. Brian Griffin said they're keeping an eye on it and becoming knowledgable about the application. "We’ve had plenty of sexting type of case, over the past couple of years but nothing involving Snapchat," said Griffin. "It’s a fun tool to have but …

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