Chief Gregory Gilmore reports that the Blackstone Police Department arrested a man in connection with a vehicle break-in on Sunday.
MATTHEW MASTON, AGE 28, of BLACKSTONE, was arrested and charged with:
- Breaking and Entering of a Motor Vehicle (Felony)
- Disturbing the Peace
- Resisting Arrest
On Sunday, July 16 at 9:30 p.m., Blackstone Police received a report of a suspicious man who was allegedly looking through parked cars on Roberta Drive. Upon arrival, officers spoke with a homeowner in the area who had witnessed an unknown male allegedly sitting in their vehicle and had chased him off. Officers searched the area for the suspect, but were unable to locate anyone. Through their preliminary on-scene investigation, officers identified MASTON as a possible suspect. MASTON is known to police.
Police responded to MASTON’s last known residence to conduct surveillance of the area. After a short time, officers located MASTON. They approached him and attempted to speak with him, but he allegedly fled on foot. He was apprehended shortly thereafter.
MASTON was positively identified as the individual allegedly looking through vehicles earlier in the evening and was subsequently arrested.
“I commend the work of the Blackstone Police officers who responded, investigated and arrested this suspect,” said Chief Gilmore. “Our community had seen increased car break-in activity recently and we encourage residents to be vigilant.”
Additional vehicle break-ins in Blackstone remain under investigation.
MASTON is expected to be arraigned in Uxbridge District Court today.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Blackstone Police remind vehicle owners to use common sense when parking and exiting their vehicle:
- Take your keys. Don’t leave them in your vehicle.
- Close all windows and lock all doors.
- Never leave your vehicle while it is running.
- Never leave valuables in your vehicle. Anything stored inside your vehicle should be out of sight or in the trunk.
- Never leave credit cards/debit cards, cash or your wallet or purse inside of your vehicle overnight.
- Park in well-lit areas or preferably inside a garage, if possible. Park in visible areas where your vehicle is not hidden by foliage or larger vehicles. Install lights with motion sensors near where you park your vehicle.
These are allegations. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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