In a twisted tale of burglary and betrayal, a Braintree grandmother’s house was robbed Monday afternoon, and as police arrived to investigate, the victim’s grandson allegedly stole more items and tried to have a friend pawn them and blame it on the original burglar.
The incident started when an off-duty Boston Police officer observed a man walking down Jefferson Street toward the backyard of a house, carrying a backpack on Monday afternoon, Braintree police said in a statement. The man re-appeared several minutes later and walked toward another house in the neighborhood. The off-duty cop called Braintree Police, who responded. The suspected started running away when he heard the sirens, but the Boston officer gave chase and ultimately caught him and held him in custody until local police arrived.
The Boston officer’s name was not released.
The back pack contained several pieces of jewelry and coins stolen from the Jefferson Street house. The alleged burglar, Christopher MacDonald, 25, was arrested and charged with breaking and entering in the daytime, receiving stolen property over $250, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, police said.
Police couldn’t reach the homeowner, whose name was not released, but her grandson, Matthew R. Mikenas, 25, arrived a short time later with a friend. He said he lived at the home with his grandmother and showed police what was missing from the house.
A short time later officers patrolling the South Shore Plaza observed two men “acting suspiciously,” in the mall near a Cash for Gold kiosk, police said. Police followed the men to their car. When they questioned one of the men, identified as Matthew R. Taylor, 24, of Whitman, they found he had outstanding traffic warrants and arrested him. Checking the car he was trying to leave in, police found that the vehicle was registered to Mikenas – the victim’s grandson.
Taylor was the friend who arrived with Mikenas after the burglary, police said.
Police said Mikenas and Taylor stole more of the grandmother’s jewelry and tried to sell it off and blame it on the original burglary.
The two were arrested and charged with larceny.
Mikenas also had a prescription painkiller in his pocket and was further charged with drug possession.
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