Police Department

Press Release: Motor Vehicle Breaking & Entering Suspects Located 9-25-23

At approximately 3:19 a.m., the Southeastern Massachusetts Regional Emergency Communications Center (SEMRECC) received a 911 call from a resident on Church Street reporting that someone was attempting to break into vehicles and had been successful in entering another vehicle. Mansfield officers converged on the area and observed a group of individuals running around Brook Street. Assistance from the Massachusetts State Police K9 unit was requested and, along with the dog, additional troopers and officers from Foxborough PD responded to assist. 

Over the next hour, officers established a perimeter of the area while coordinating to identify and follow the fleeing suspects through the backyards and wooded area between Samoset, Church, and Cottage Streets. Officers during this time responding to the area of Brook Street and Cottage Street also recovered a vehicle that was reported stolen from a Cottage Street residence during the intervening period. At approximately 4:45 am Officer Sorge, stopped a vehicle with 4 suspects wearing wet and muddy clothing and detained them. 

During the 6:00 a.m. hour, calls began coming in from other victims in the area as they awoke to find their vehicles had been broken into and belongings were missing. Discarded personal belongings were found strewn through the area. At approximately 7:00 a.m., a 911 caller reported a subject tried entering the caller’s vehicle and ran toward Hope Street. Officers maintaining a presence in the area responded and another MSP K9 responded along with the MPD Drone to assist in searching for two additional subjects while officers maintained a perimeter.

At approximately 10:40 a.m., a caller on Glen Street reported two subjects running through backyards in the neighborhood, and Sgt. Pierce, along with Officers Kelley and Pepicelli, detained the two subjects on Willis Street, who surrendered without further incident. 

In all, six juvenile males from Rhode Island were detained at the Mansfield Police Department before being transported to Taunton District Court. They will be facing charges of:

• Breaking & Entering into a Motor Vehicle (nighttime)
• Breaking & Entering into a Motor Vehicle (daytime)
• Malicious Damage to a Motor Vehicle
• Larceny of a Motor Vehicle
• Conspiracy, and
• Unlicensed Operation
• Receiving Stolen Property

Thank you to our law enforcement partners in the area for their assistance and to our residents in the “Back Bay” area including Cottage Street, Church Street, Samoset Avenue, Hillside Terrace, Glen Street, and Hope Street who all called to report suspicious activity, shared footage, and ultimately helped bring about a successful and safe conclusion for all involved. 

If you are a resident or visitor who was parked in that area last night, please check your car if you haven’t already. A night like this is a sobering reminder of the importance of locking vehicles left outside overnight, removing or hiding valuable items, and ensuring driveways are adequately lit. Anyone wishing to report being a victim, please call 911 and an officer will respond to take your information. Anyone with video evidence or additional information is encouraged to contact Detective Anthony Lattanzio by email at alattanzio@mansfieldma.com or by phone at 508-261-7300 x61319

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