MAYNARD — Police Chief Michael A. Noble reports that the Maynard Police Department, after a diligent and aggressive investigation, arrested and charged a suspect in connection with no fewer than seven residential break-ins and recovered four firearms from the individual.
As a result of work by Maynard Police Detectives, JOSEPH A. ENCARNACION JR., AGE 39, OF LYNN was charged with:
- Breaking and Entering During the Daytime with Intent to Commit a Felony (three counts)
- Larceny of a Firearm (three counts)
- Unlawful Possession of a Firearm (three counts)
- Breaking into a Depository
- Receiving Stolen Property under $1,200 (nine counts)
- Larceny of a Credit Card (two counts)
- Improper Use of a Credit Card Under $1,200
- Identity Fraud
- Larceny from a Building (two counts)
- Possession of Ammunition without an FID Card (three counts)
On Wednesday, March 27, shortly before 4 p.m., Maynard Police received a call from a resident who arrived home to find a stranger in their apartment. The resident told police that the man claimed to be a mobile app-based food delivery driver, then quickly left the residence.
During the course of the evening and into Thursday seven other Maynard residents reported break-ins and thefts of items from their home. One resident reported that three firearms were stolen. The Maynard Police Department quickly scoured the surrounding area for available video surveillance footage, found a suspected vehicle and were able to garner an excellent description of the suspect.
The suspect in these break-ins also stole several credit cards and used them in nearby towns. ENCARNACION allegedly used one at an Acton gas station.
As a police officer was visiting the gas station to get more video footage from that gas manager, the officer noticed the car with a license plate matching that from the breaking and entering cases and recognized the driver from the description of the suspect. The officer pulled over the vehicle and the suspect was placed under arrest without incident.
A subsequent search of an apartment in Lowell rented by ENCARNACION‘sgirlfriend revealed most of the stolen items from the recent break-ins in Maynard, including the recovery of the three firearms stolen from Maynard.
The officers also discovered a fourth firearm and other items, including over $6,000 in cash. Some of the items were not immediately identified from the Maynard break-ins including the fourth firearm, and the investigation remains ongoing. Additional charges may be brought.
“Our Maynard Police Department officers and detectives did an excellent job and worked diligently to bring a quick arrest of the suspect and recovery of stolen firearms and other property,” Chief Noble said. “From top to bottom, our officers understood not only the danger of multiple stolen firearms likely to end up sold on the streets, but we also had a profound duty to respond to the intrusions on the homes of several of our residents. The message should be clear: Our residents will not be victimized, and we will employ all of our considerable resources to pursue suspects in these matters.”
ENCARNACION will likely be arraigned Friday in Concord District Court.
These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.
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