What's Up With 2 Nights of Tree Street Police Chases?

You Ask, Patch Answers:

I've been working on finding out more about two late-night police pursuits in the Tree Streets area, Aug. 19 and 20, after many readers asked what was going on.

This morning I spoke with Nashua Police Lt. Denis Linehan of the detective division who filled me in:

An officer on patrol in the area of Central Street observed two men running down the street Monday night around 10 p.m., one which he believed was armed with a handgun. That officer began a foot chase, and was joined by other officers, including a police dog from Hudson, but was unable to catch up with them.

In the meantime, a call came in about a home invasion on Central Street in which three residents were robbed, and police believe the two men spotted earlier were running from the scene.

One resident suffered minor injury after being struck in the head with a handgun by one of the robbers. It's not known if the two men got away with anything, Linehan said. But detectives believe they've identified the two men who were running and they are currently sought as possible suspects in the home invasion. Linehan said the robbers were acquainted with the victims, and that it was not a random crime.

"Normally there's some sort of assoiatoin when there's a home invasion versus a burglary," Linehan said.

Residents of the area were aware of more police activity the following night, Tuesday Aug. 20, around  9 p.m. in the area of Oak Street, when police attempted to make contact with one of the suspects from the Monday night incident. A second foot chase ensued, but police did not make an arrest.

The robbery remains under investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Criminal Investigations Division at 603-594-3500 or the Nashua Crimeline 603-589-1665.

If you'd like to get involved with public safety in the Tree Streets neighborhood, consider attending the Aug. 21 Neighborhood Watch Group, at the PAL center, 52 Ash St.