Eye on Crime: Responsible Resident helps Police Identify Car Break Thief

-By Joseph Domelowicz

For the Transcript

Winthrop Police arrested a 26-year-old Arlington man on Memorial Day weekend, thanks to the diligent efforts of a witness who continued calling the police as they searched the Veterans Road neighborhood for the suspect.

John Francis Savage, 26, 55 Wyman Apt. #1 in Arlington was charged with felony breaking and entering a motor vehicle at nighttime, after a witness confirmed that he had witnessed Savage breaking into his wife’s car and then fleeing before anything was taken.

According to police reports the incident began at around 10 p.m. on Sunday, May 29, when a Veterans Road resident called police to report that he had seen a young man attempting to break into cars on the street near his home and furnished the police with a complete description including the kind of clothes he was wearing.

The suspect initially evaded police searches of the area by ducking behind cars when he saw police cruisers. However, the witness, whose name is being withheld to protect the identity, continued to call police and given them information about the suspects movements in the neighborhood.

Officers finally were able to detain the suspect when two officers working a plain clothes spotted the suspect and identified themselves.

As police interviewed Savage near the scene, the caller arrived at the scene and positively identified Savage as the man he had witnessed breaking into his wife’s car.

Officers William Donnellan and James Freeman, working in plain clothes placed Savage under arrest.

“This case is a perfect example of how successful we can be, when the residents take the time to let us know what they are seeing,” said Chief Terence Delehanty. “The arresting officers also did an excellent job if working with the caller to apprehend the suspect.”