UPDATED, Feb. 12: A 33-year-old Boston man suspected in 19 break-ins since September in five communities including Arlington has been identified and charged.
In a news release Monday, Feb. 11, the office of Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan cited a joint announcement with Arlington’s acting chief Julie Flaherty, Medford Chief Jack Buckley, Brookline Chief Andrew Lipson, Quincy Chief Paul Keenan and Watertown Chief Michael Lawn.
Jargle Soto-Suazo is believed to be responsible for the uptick in house break-is in Arlington, Medford, Brookline, Quincy and Watertown. Police departments across Middlesex and Norfolk counties have been investigating the reported crimes for five months.
Nabbed in Brookline
Soto-Suazo was apprehended following an alleged break-in in Brookline on Thursday, Feb. 7. As part of the ongoing joint investigation into the alleged burglaries, police from multiple departments located the defendant displaying suspicious behavior in the area of Colbourne Street in Brookline. Police subsequently identified signs of an apparent break-in at a home in a neighborhood where Brookline Police had allegedly seen the suspect leaving moments earlier. The defendant was arrested as he was leaving the scene.
A search warrant was subsequently executed on the defendant’s Boston home and vehicle that allegedly resulted in authorities discovering multiple items, including several watches, small jewelry items, a firearm and an iPad, that were reportedly stolen from residences across multiple communities.
The preliminary investigation suggests that the defendant entered the residences through second-story windows between the hours of 4 and 11 p.m. using a pry bar. In several instances residents of the homes were present during the break-ins.
Charges were filed against Soto-Suazo for a total of 19 burglaries including four in Medford, six in Brookline, seven in Quincy, one in Watertown and one in Arlington. Charges include multiple counts of breaking and entering in the nighttime to commit a felony, attempted breaking and entering, possession of burglary tools and receiving stolen property.
The investigation into this matter is ongoing and investigators are also looking at recent reported burglaries in Belmont and Winchester. Additional charges may follow. Soto-Suazo is expected to be arraigned in Middlesex County and Quincy District Court this week on additional charges.
The prosecutor assigned to this case is Middlesex Assistant District Attorney Maren Schrader. Assistant Norfolk District Attorney Amanda Mullaney handled his arraignment in Brookline District Court, where he pleaded not guilty. The defendant was ordered held on $40,000 cash bail, according to the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office.
November report
In November, Arlington police asked the public for help after a series of house break-ins over the past several weeks to identify a male suspect caught on video inside one of the affected homes.
Asked about this case, Capt. Richard Flynn responded Feb. 12. After a joint investigation and the arrest of the suspect, he wrote, “the Arlington Criminal Investigation Bureau was able to tie the suspect to one of our breaks. This was not the Moulton Road break-in ….
“It is important to recognize that this investigation is ongoing and our investigators are working to determine if this suspect was responsible for other house breaks in our community. If the facts and evidence bring us to that conclusion then additional charges will be sought. If the Arlington Police Department brings additional charges we will certainly release that information to the media.”
Since September, a total of 11 homes in Arlington have been broken into, including seven homes so far in November. The break-ins have occurred throughout the town during the early evening hours, mostly between 4:30 and 8 p.m.
Homes that are being targeted have typically been on corners of streets or in close proximity to a corner. Access has typically been gained through a window in the rear or side of home that’s view is obstructed from the street.
Items that have been taken include jewelry, cash, handheld electronics and camera equipment.
In one recent break-in on Moulton Road, a male suspect can be seen on camera in a living room of the home using a flashlight to search the room.
A map of approximate locations where recent house break-ins have occurred in Arlington.
The suspect in video is described as 6-feet 1-inch tall, with a thin build and light skin complexion. He is seen wearing a hooded sweatshirt, long pants, sneakers and gloves.
“We are actively investigating these break-ins, and we ask the members of our community to call 911 immediately if they witness any suspicious or unusual activity in their neighborhood,” Chief Fed Ryan said in a Nov. 7 news release from John Guilfoil Public Relations. “Our residents are our eyes and ears. If you see something, say something.”
Anyone who has information about these break ins, or who may have video footage of an incident is asked to call the Arlington Police Department Criminal Investigation Bureau at 781-316-3910.
YourArlington.com began asking about the break-ins after the Nov. 1 Arlington police log showed a number on Moulton Road and one on Bailey Road. Then on Nov. 6 Communty Crime Watch noted incidents on Bartlett Avenue and Pleasant Street.
Some police reports
The following recent police reports are among those included in the series of break-ins tracked since September:
— Six officers responded to a 7:56 p.m. call on Nov. 1 from a Moulton Road address, a police report says. A caller told police she was not home but could see from a home security app that someone was in her house and had turned the security camera off.
Police set up a perimeter to stop all possible escape routes. Dispatch got updated information stating the video footage from the security camera was 30 minutes old and not currently happening.
The Moulton Road apartment is unoccupied because it had been put up for sale and did not contain many valuables.
Officers found the point of entry, a kitchen window with a screen removed.
Officers also found that the suspect initially tried to gain access through the dining room window. K9 Officer Michael Hogan responded to the scene to try to track the suspect but was unsuccessful.
The residents of a second apartment said the house was still secure the way they left it.
A police report says the suspect appears to check the hallway to the front door then checks a drawer under the coat rack. “The suspect then walks toward the TV and notices the camera sitting on the TV stand, he then hits/kicks or pulls out the camera ending the video feed,” it says.
— The same day at about 8:54 p.m., police went to a Bailey Road address for a breaking-and-entering investigation. The residents said they were gone most of the day and evening. After arriving home, one resident noticed various rooms had been ransacked.
Because she was upset, the resident was unable to describe a full list of jewelry that was taken, but said she would do so later.
The same evening, at 9:59, police responded to a different Moulton Road address. A resident said he returned about 9:50 to find the apartment had been ransacked and a laptop was missing.
A neighbor’s back door appeared to be kicked in.
— On Nov. 5, at 6:22 p.m., officers responded to a Pleasant Street address for a past breaking and entering.
A resident said he returned home from work and observed his side door was opened and items were stolen, including a laptop.
This news announcement with background was published Monday, Feb. 11, 2019, and updated Feb. 12, to add local comment about earlier report.
