Suspect Held in Attempted Burglaries of Hopedale, Milford Businesses

A 32-year-old man arrested after police say he attempted to break into two Milford businesses early Saturday has also been charged with a similar attempt at a Dunkin Donuts in Hopedale.

Robert P. Boothby, 32, of 9A Vine St., Milford, was ordered held Monday on $2,000 cash bail for the Milford and Hopedale charges, and his bail was revoked for 30 days on a prior charge in Milford, of being present where heroin was being kept.

For the Milford offenses, he is charged with two counts of vandalizing property, one count of possessing burglarious instrument, and two counts of attempting to commit a crime. For the Hopedale offense, he is charged with malicious destruction of property more than $250 and breaking and entering a building in the nighttime for a felony.

Boothby told Milford Police he had attempted to break into the Milford businesses — Sew Much More and Sei Bella Salon — because he needed money to help support his family, according to a court document. Milford Police later shared information about the break-in attempt with Hopedale Police, and Boothby was charged Monday with an attempted break-in March 16 at the Dunkin Donuts on Hartford Avenue and South Main Street.

According to a police statement filed in Milford District Court, officers Brian Cahill and Michael Kehoe were dispatched about 12:30 a.m. Saturday to the Meineke Car Care Center, in response to a reported alarm. The officers went through the interior of the building with the business owner, and noticed a right-side rear door had damage on the door latch and the door frame. It appeared the suspect had tried to pry open the door.

Following this, Cahill reported he started checking business buildings in his area of town.

At 1:30 a.m., he was checking the Afonso Plaza on West Street, and drove his cruiser around the back of the building, Cahill wrote, in a statement. When he pulled around, he noticed a man later identified as Boothby at the rear of the Sei Bella Salon. He was carrying a thin, silver tool in his right hand and his hands were near the door knob, Cahill reported.

The officer observed fresh pry marks around the rear latch of the door. When another officer arrived, he noticed similar pry marks on the rear door latch of Sew Much More.

According to the police statement, Boothby admitted he had attempted to enter the two businesses, but said he had not tried to enter the Meineke business.

In court Monday for arraignment, he was represented by attorney Stephen Patton, who said he had cooperated with police, and was trying to support his family. He had recently moved in with a sister and her children. "He was trying to procure funds to help his sister out," Patton said.

District Judge Robert Calagione revoked Boothby's prior bail, release on personal recognizance, for a January 21 charge in which he was present when another man almost overdosed on heroin. He will be held without bail on that charge for 30 days, and must present $2,000 in cash or $20,000 in surety to be released on the Hopedale and Milford charges, Calagione ordered.

Boothby is next scheduled to appear in court on April 25.