A Greenfield man has found himself in police custody after allegedly targeting the same local business not once, but twice, in addition to trying to break into another. The Whitman Police Department credited their detectives and officers' vigilance and investigative prowess for the quick identification and arrest of the suspect in question.
22-year-old Nore Anthony Cruz of Greenfield has been slapped with multiple charges, including three counts of Breaking and Entering a Building in the Nighttime with Intent to Commit a Felony and two counts of Larceny from a Building. This news comes after a report surfaced on January 1 that a coffee shop on 564 Washington St. was broken into and an undisclosed sum of money was snatched, according to an official statement by the Whitman Police Department.
In pursuit of the culprit, Detective Paul Young pieced together the puzzle that led to a silver sedan with a distinctly black bumper. The plot thickened when Officer Christopher Ezepik, acting on his observation, pulled over a car matching that description on Tuesday due to an expired inspection sticker and subsequently identified Cruz.
Despite the ongoing investigation, another daring break-in hit the same coffee shop on Wednesday, further aggravating the situation as the intruder made off with more cash. Detective Sgt. Patrick Burtt-Henderson's follow-up efforts confirmed Cruz's involvement in both cases. His sleuthing also uncovered Cruz's attempted break-in at a 79 Temple St. gas station."I would like to commend the comprehensive investigation work of our Whitman Police Detectives, as well as the keen observation made by Officer Ezepik," said Chief Timothy Hanlon in a sentiment captured by the department's press release. "Their diligent efforts resulted in the identification of the suspect in this case, and, ultimately, his arrest," he added, underscoring the department's commitment to the security of its community and its businesses.
Cruz turned himself over to the authorities yesterday and now awaits his day in court for an arraignment at Brockton District Court. While these allegations stand, it is enshrined in the American judicial landscape that all suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
