The Pelham Police Criminal Bureau completed a lengthy investigation into a burglary that took place on Long Pond Drive in Pelham, NH in December of 2019. The investigation led to a larger regional operation that uncovered a crime spree of multiple burglaries, vehicle breaks and stolen property that was recovered as a result.  

Pelham’s detectives released video footage in December of 2019 of two men that had forcefully broke into a residence on Long Pond Drive. They requested the public’s assistance in identifying the men. This video footage led detectives to a  number of leads which uncovered a region-wide criminal operation. The suspects involved were believed to be committing similar crimes in the surrounding region. Detectives networked with a number of agencies to include Massachusetts State Police and collectively they were able to solve multiple burglaries and recover stolen items from various breaks that had taken place.

Early this morning, April 7, 2021, the two main suspects believed to be the masterminds behind this crime spree were arrested at their homes without incident. Gabriel Estuardo Rojas, age 28, Methuen, MA and Manual Jose Lopez, age 24, Lawrence, MA were arrested and charged in connection with seven burglaries and break-ins since November 22, 2019, as well as dealing in property stolen from several other burglaries and break-ins in Massachusetts. Both defendants appeared in the Woburn District Court today and are currently being held in Massachusetts without bail pending a dangerousness hearing on Monday April 12, 2021. In addition to Massachusetts criminal charges, prior to Monday’s arraignment, the Massachusetts State Police will bring forth an additional charge against Rojas and Lopez charging them as a Fugitive from Justice for the felony level arrest warrants that the Pelham detectives brought forth. The arrest warrants from Pelham charge each suspect with one count of Burglary and one count of Criminal Mischief.  

This investigation was very lengthy, and a lot of effort, from multiple agencies was put in behind the scenes to solidify this case. That included multiple search warrants that were written and executed over the course of the past year as well as surveillance on the suspects involved.

The following agencies were directly involved in this joint effort;  the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and Massachusetts State Police assigned to the District Attorney’s Office, Salem NH Police Department, Nashua NH Police Department, Windham NH Police Department, Londonderry NH Police Department, Tewksbury Police Department, Chelmsford Police Department, Natick Police Department, Tyngsborough Police Department, Methuen Police Department, Haverhill Police Department, Andover Police Department, Dracut Police Department, Lawrence Police Department, Westford Police Department, Waltham Police Department, Wilmington Police Department, Concord Police Department, Needham Police Department, Dedham Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police Special Investigation Division, the US Secret Service and US Department of Homeland Security.

Any questions regarding the Pelham, New Hampshire case or charges can be directed to Captain Anne Perriello, (603) 635-2411 or aperriello@pelhampolice.com

Questions regarding the Massachusetts case or charges can be directed to the Middlesex District Attorney’s office, (781) 897-8325. The prosecutors assigned to this case is Middlesex Assistant District Attorney Graham Van Epps and Doug Cannon.

Alert sent on 04/07/2021 at 8:12PM EDT

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