For Immediate Release

Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 781-533-9398
Email: john@jgpr.net

Stoneham Police Arrest Two Men in Connection with Early Morning Car Breaks and Thefts

Unknown if Two Were Working Together

One Victim Chased, Caught First Suspect

Second Suspect Allegedly Caught in Stolen Car

STONEHAM — Police Chief James McIntyre reports that Stoneham Police this morning arrested two men in connection with a string of car breaks and thefts in town, starting after one of the apparent victims chased down one of the suspects and held him until police arrived.

Stoneham Police responded to an address on Pond Street at about 4:20 a.m. Wednesday for a report of a motor vehicle break-in. The caller said that her boyfriend was chasing after a man they had allegedly seen breaking into his car.

A responding officer quickly located the victim, who was holding a man down on the ground, yelling for him not to move.

As a result of a subsequent investigation, VICTOR PEREZ, AGE 21, OF SOMERVILLE, was taken into custody. Police found more than $60 worth of loose change in his pockets, as well as a number of other items that did not appear to belong to him. PEREZ was charged with Breaking and Entering During the Nighttime to Commit a Felony.

PEREZ told police had had been visiting his girlfriend.

Within a hour, another Stoneham Police Officer, patrolling Summer Street was already on alert because it was not known how PEREZ arrived in Stoneham, when he noticed a Gray Infinity G20 run a red light.

The officer stopped the vehicle and a check of RMV records showed that the driver looked nothing like the registered owner of the car.

Officers determined that the driver, MIGUEL NATAL, AGE 23, OF DORCHESTER, did not have a driver’s license, and he was arrested and charged with Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle and Failure to Stop at a Red Light.

NATAL claimed he was in Stoneham to drop off his friend at his girlfriend’s house and that he was driving his mother’s car. NATAL and PEREZ claimed not to know each other when questioned by police, however.

An inventory of the vehicle showed multiple GPS devices, bank cards, designer sunglasses, cell phone charges and a variety of other items inside. Several hours later, a Somerville man, who is the rightful owner of the Infinity, reported it stolen to Somerville Police. Stoneham Police were also contacted by a Medford resident whose bank cards were stolen from his vehicle overnight and located in the suspect vehicle.

NATAL was further charged with Three Counts of Receiving Stolen Property and Receiving a Stolen Motor Vehicle.

Chief McIntyre praised the vigilance of the Stoneham Police overnight shift.

“Two alleged thieves are off the street today, and the Stoneham Police Department has sent a clear message to criminals: You will not find the Town of Stoneham to be a soft target,” Chief McIntyre said. “Our officers will aggressively pursue you, and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extend of the law.”

The case remains under investigation, and Stoneham Police are working to return the property to their rightful owners.

Both men will be arraigned later today in Woburn District Court.

These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.

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