Police Probe Link Between City and Mass. Jewelry Store Burglaries

Portsmouth Police are now working closely with several Massachusetts police departments after they learned a burglar who robbed a Deer Street jewelry store twice in two weeks may be linked to eight other cases in the Bay State.

WMUR reported on Thursday that Portsmouth Police are actively looking at several jewelry store burglaries that have occurred in that state this month to determine if it is the same suspect. Attempts to get comment from Portsmouth Police Lt. Det. Michael Maloney on Wednesday and Thursday morning were unsuccessful.

Just days after the male burglary suspect robbed the Chrisrial and Co. Jewelers store on Deer Street on Feb. 22, Andover, Mass., Police say a similar burglary suspect broke into the Nazarian Jewelers in that community on Feb. 26.

before he made off with an unspecified amount of jewelry, which is very similar to the way the Portsmouth burglary suspect robbed the Deer Street store.

Just one day before the Andover, Mass., jewelry store burglary happened, Swampscott, Mass., Police reported a similar crime on Monday, Feb. 25. Police in that community say the burglary suspect used a sledge hammer that he left behind to break the glass of the front door and then eight display cases before he made off with 50 jewelry items valued at $8,500.

Here in Portsmouth, police say the Chrisrial and Co. Jewelers was robbed on Feb. 7 and Feb. 21. The burglary suspect used a 30-pound dumbbell on Feb. 7 to smash his way into the store before stealing more than $20,000 worth of merchandise. Police say the burglary suspect then used a sledge hammer to break into the store again on Feb. 22.

Peabody Police reported that a burglary suspect used a 30-pound dumbbell to break into Long's Jewelry store on Feb. 1., according to Peabody Patch.

Danvers, Mass., Police say they had a similar burglary case occur on November. Danvers Police Sgt. Robert Bettencourt told Danvers Patch they investigated a similar case at Carter's Fine Jewelry on Nov. 29, 2012.

Portsmouth Police are asking anyone who may recognize either the dumbbell or the suspect, or who may have information that may lead to his identity to call Det. Tim Cashman at 603-610-7587.

Anyone who may have information about this crime can also call Seacoast Crime Stoppers at 603-431-1199 if they wish to remain anonymous and have information on unsolved crimes or under age alcohol parties. People can also leave an anonymous tip by logging on to www.seacoastcrimestoppers.org or send an SMS text to CRIMES (274637) and include TIPSCS in their message. Anyone who leaves a tip that leads to an arrest or an indictment could be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.