Swampscott Police Help with Search That Ends with Capture of Car Break-in Suspect

Swampscott police helped Marblehead police catch a man who allegedly tried to steal items from a car on Leo Road in Marblehead on Thursday afternoon.

Nobody was injured.

It started at about 12:40 p.m. on Thursday when an “alert citizen” saw the man reach into an empty car on Leo Road and tried to steal something, police said.

The man, who was described as age 17-20 with a beard, ran through yards towards Thompson Road.

Patrol officer started searching the neighborhoods, side roads and backyards in the area along with detail officers who were working in the area and mutual aid officers from the Swampscott Police Department, police said.

Marblehead police did a “social media blast” and let all Department of Public Works vehicles know about the search and provided them with information about the suspect’s description.

The suspect, who police said is not from Marblehead but did not identify on Thursday, was trying to get out of Marblehead through the backyards of houses along the Humphrey Street towards Swampscott. As part of the search, some of the public and private schools in the area were told about of the search and asked to be alert, police said.

Since MBTA bus service runs through the area, the T was notified too and police sought the assistance from a police K-9, butnone were available ”because they were committed to other calls in other parts of the region.”

The search came to an end when several citizens saw the suspect climbing fences and running in yards. Police converged on the area and the suspect was arrested without incident in the backyard of 6 Seaview Ave., police said.

The suspect will face “a variety of charges,” police said.

Police thanked residents for their help that lead to the arrest.