See How a Landscaper Helped Watertown Police Catch a Car Thief

A Watertown Police detective had a car thief in his sights when the suspect made a run for it, but he didn't get far thanks to an alert landscaper. 

On May 21 at 11:50 a.m., the detective had been patrolling the area of Chandler Street in Watertown after a series of home break ins. He spotted man driving suspiciously around the area, said Watertown Police Lt. Michael Lawn. 

"The car was being operated by a white male who was driving slowly looking around," Lawn said. "He appeared to be casing the neighborhood."

The detective ran the registration of the green Honda Civic and discovered it had been stolen from Somerville the previous day.

He had lost sight of the car, but then located it on Belmont Street near Lexington Street. He turned onto Holly Street and the detective stopped the man - later identified as Anthony Medeiros of Cambridge.

"The operator exited the vehicle and began running behind residents on Holly Street," Lawn said. "A landscaper working in the area assisted the detective in apprehending Medeiros."

Anthony M. Medeiros, 27, of 298 Brookline St. in Cambridge, was arrested on charges of receiving a stolen vehicle, driving with a revoked license and he had a warrant out of Chelsea District Court for driving under the influence of drugs and other traffic offenses, Lawn said.

The detective also discovered assorted stolen jewelry in the stolen car, Lawn said. The items had been taken from a home in Belmont.