GEORGETOWN — Chief David Sedgwick and the Georgetown Police Department are asking residents to secure their motor vehicles and belongings after several recent thefts of vehicles in town.
In the early morning of Friday May 31, a 2008 Toyota Prius was stolen from a Georgetown home. Several hours later, the Prius was found abandoned with a flat tire in the driveway of the Boston Museum of Science.
On Sunday June 9, at approximately 2:17 a. m., Georgetown police officers came across a suspicious gathering at the Georgetown Park and Ride involving two males and a 2022 Toyota Prius. The officers identified the vehicle as being stolen and belonging to a Newton resident. When approached by officers, the males fled.
One of the males later stole another vehicle, a 2010 Toyota Camry, and led police officers on a pursuit which ended with the vehicle veering into the woods on Church Street in West Newbury, and the suspect being located by Amesbury Police K9 Meatball and arrested by officers.
The suspect, who is known to Georgetown Police, was later identified as JOSEPH WINTHROP LEE, AGE 18, of GEORGETOWN.
Based on a subsequent investigation, Georgetown Police charged LEE with both the May 31 and June 9 thefts.
LEE is charged with:
- Receiving a Stolen Motor Vehicle (two counts)
- Larceny of Motor Vehicle
- Failure to Stop for Police
- Unlicensed Operation of Motor Vehicle
- Reckless Operation of Motor Vehicle
- Leaving the Scene of Property Damage
- Resisting Arrest
- Speeding in Excess of Posted Limit
- Marked Lanes Violation
LEE was arraigned in Haverhill District Court on Monday June 10 and pleaded not guilty. He is scheduled to re-appear before the court on July 10.
“Practicing responsible vehicle ownership isn’t just about protecting your property, it’s also about protecting the lives and property of other people,” Chief Sedgwick said. “Motor vehicle theft is often a gateway crime to other crime, such as speeding and reckless driving, both of which pose a threat to the entire community. On this occasion, the motor vehicles were stolen as a matter of convenience, and their theft could have been prevented.”
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) offers the following common-sense tips for helping to prevent vehicle theft:
- Take your vehicle’s key; do not leave it in or on your vehicle.
- Close and lock all windows and doors when you park.
- Park in well-lit areas if possible.
- Never leave valuables in your vehicle, especially if they can be seen from outside the vehicle.
