New Bedford Police arrest multiple people for breaking into cars in past several days

The New Bedford Police Department have arrested two car breakers during two seperate incidents in the past few days. One suspect led officers on a foot chase and is now facing two counts of breaking into a motor vehicle to commit a felony and resisting arrest. NBPD released the following statement detailing both incidents.

“On January 26th at around 10 PM, Sgt. Andy Simmons of the department’s narcotics unit was conducting surveillance in the west end sector. At this time, he observed a male walking in the area of Sixth St. and School St. trying the door handle of a parked vehicle. Sgt. Simmons watched as the male moved on towards another vehicle, successfully opened the door, and then entered.

The suspect exited this vehicle shortly thereafter and Sgt. Simmons asked awaiting detectives to approach him. Sgt. Jonathan Lagoa and Detective Emily Pacheco stopped the suspect who was identified as Mr. JAVIER MENDEZ-COLON, 32, of 60 S. Second St. MENDEZ-COLON was found to have property belonging to the vehicle’s owner in his possession. He was then placed under arrest and taken into custody.

MENDEZ-COLON was charged with breaking into a motor vehicle at night with the intent to commit a felony. He has an extensive history with numerous convictions for a variety of crimes including two previous charges of breaking and entering. At the time of this arrest, MENDEZ-COLON was on probation out of New Bedford District Court.

Early this morning at around 3:30 AM, in the area of the Watson St./Duke St. intersection, police were called regarding a vehicle break. A quarter-glass window on the driver’s side had been smashed by the suspect who then entered the vehicle and stole some property. Upon being spotted by the vehicle’s owner, he immediately fled the scene, jumping over nearby fences to make his escape.

Later in the morning, at around 6 AM, Ofc. Carlos Fernandes was on patrol when he observed this same male going through a parked vehicle on Willow St. in the area of the Bullock St. intersection. Ofc. Fernandes approached the male who then once again attempted to flee the scene, leading responding officers on a foot chase through several nearby yards before he was ultimately caught and taken into custody after a brief struggle. He was identified as Mr. WALTER BREWSTER, 55, with a last known address of 103 Durfee St. BREWSTER was discovered to have numerous items believed to have been stolen from parked vehicles, including the one from Watson St. earlier in the morning. He was arrested and charged with two counts of breaking into a motor vehicle to commit a felony and resisting arrest.

Mr. BREWSTER also has an extensive criminal history with numerous convictions for offenses such as assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, larceny, possession of burglarious tools, and 4 previous cases of breaking and entering.”