A man accused of quietly helping himself to high-end gear in Boston’s Back Bay is now behind bars, after prosecutors say a hidden GPS device led police straight to him at Copley station.
Peter Cutelis, 40, was arraigned Friday on allegations that he took thousands of dollars in merchandise from upscale shops on Newbury Street and at the Prudential Center last November. He pleaded not guilty in Boston Municipal Court and is due back on March 6. A judge set combined bail at $10,000, and Cutelis is also being held on a separate fugitive charge out of Brentwood, New Hampshire.
According to The Boston Globe, prosecutors have charged Cutelis with four counts of larceny over $1,200, one count of illegal drug possession and a count of being a “common and notorious thief.” Judge Joseph Griffin set bail at $2,500 per case, totaling $10,000, and ordered him held without bail on the New Hampshire fugitive charge. He is scheduled to return to Boston Municipal Court on March 6.
Prosecutors say the string of thefts started on November 12 at the Lululemon store on Newbury Street, then continued with incidents at Ralph Lauren Polo and the Lululemon inside the Prudential Center, with several thousand dollars in alleged losses across the three locations. Investigators tucked a GPS device into one of the stolen items, which they say led them to Cutelis at the Copley MBTA station. When officers arrested him, police say they found fentanyl, crack cocaine and clonazepam in a glove in his pocket.
Prosecutors Call Out Repeat Offenders
In comments reported by The Boston Globe, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden framed the case as part of a broader fight against repeat shoplifting in Boston’s busiest retail corridors.
“The last thing our merchants need is someone making a habit of coming into their stores and leaving with a lot of high-value, unpaid-for merchandise,” Hayden said. Prosecutors say cases like this highlight their focus on chronic retail theft and on close coordination with police and store owners.
Back Bay Retailers and the Safe Shopping Initiative
Hayden’s office says it has been working with Boston police and retailers since 2024 under a “Safe Shopping Initiative” that coordinates prevention strategies and prosecution of repeat offenders, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney. Local reporting has shown that Lululemon and other Back Bay stores have been hit repeatedly in recent months, with thefts that have become frequent enough to draw regular public alerts.
In January, Boston police asked the public for tips in a high-profile Lululemon case detailed in a police seek suspects report, and broadcasters have aired similar calls for information. In one recent incident, WCVB reported that officers recovered merchandise and returned items to stores.
What the Charges Mean
Under Massachusetts law, larceny of property worth more than $1,200 is a felony that can carry up to five years in state prison or other penalties, according to Mass.gov. Multiple convictions can increase a defendant’s potential exposure, although judges weigh criminal history and the circumstances of each case when deciding on sentences.
The case against Cutelis is still in its early stages. He has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled for a probable-cause hearing on March 6. Boston police and prosecutors say they will keep concentrating on repeat offenders in busy shopping districts and urge anyone with information to contact District 4 detectives.
