Edgartown police arrest three for break-ins
By Nelson Sigelman
Published: March 19, 2009
Edgartown Police last week arrested three men in connection with a string of break-ins committed over the past two months.
Photos by Steve Myrick
Late Wednesday, police arrested Brian D. Gromoshak, 29, of Oak Bluffs and Henry T. Parent, 17, of Edgartown.
On Thursday police arrested Stephen Sullivan, 19, of Cat Boat Lane, West Tisbury.
Mr. Gromoshak and Mr. Parent were arraigned Thursday morning in Edgartown District Court, on a variety of charges.
Mr. Gromoshak was arraigned on two counts of breaking and entering a building during daytime to commit a felony and larceny from a building and one count of larceny over $250 and malicious destruction of property over $250. Bail was set at $6,000 and $2,000 respectively.
Mr. Parent was arraigned on one count of breaking and entering a building during daytime to commit a felony, larceny from a building and larceny over $250.
He was released on personal recognizance.
On Thursday police, armed with a search warrant, found jewelry and other items related to the break-ins during a search of Mr. Gromoshak's vehicle and residence at 230 County Road in Oak Bluffs, according to Edgartown Police detective Jonathan Searle.
Mr. Sullivan was arraigned Friday morning on several counts of breaking and entering, larceny from a building, and malicious destruction. He was released on personal recognizance.
The series of break-ins, including five on one day, occurred over the past several weeks.
What was particularly troubling, police said, was that the thief or thieves targeted mostly year-round, occupied dwellings, although in all but one case, the occupants were not present at the time of the attempted break-in.
Lieutenant Tony Bettencourt said the victims left their houses to go to work or run a few errands. They returned to find broken windows or doors, and in some cases missing money or household items.
The arrests came after police interviewed several people who assisted with the investigation. Police were ultimately able to make a connection between one of the suspects and several of the houses that had been broken into.
A West Tisbury break-in on March 10 fit the pattern of the Edgartown crimes. A homeowner left his house on Charles Neck Way for several hours. When he returned he found the front door smashed, rooms in disarray and missing change and jewelry.
West Tisbury Detective Dan Gouldrup told The Martha's Vineyard Times yesterday that the recent arrests led to the recovery of some property from the Charles Neck Way house but he stopped short of linking the three men to the crime. The investigation continues, he said.
Edgartown Police are also attempting to fix the location of a break-in at a house described by the men but still unreported. The house is thought to be located in Edgartown or Oak Bluffs, said police.
