An investigation involving police from 10 Massachusetts communities led to the arrest of two alleged jewelry thieves from Natick who are accused of breaking into homes around the region since February, authorities said Tuesday.
Sean Sullivan, 31, and Gregg Lamont, 48, are facing multiple charges of receiving stolen property over $250 in several towns, including in Wellesley, Westwood, and Wayland. Sullivan was also charged with driving with a suspended license, police said in a joint statement.
Police from communities in Middlesex and Norfolk counties teamed up after a spate of similar residential break-ins were reported in their respective areas.
In February, one of the break-in victims provided police with a partial license plate number for a Ford pickup truck believed to belong to one of the suspects. That information was dispatched to police in the other affected communities, officials said.
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A Lincoln police officer spotted a truck matching that description April 4, as two men were driving through the town. The officer identified Sullivan, who had a suspended license, as the driver.
Sullivan was arrested, and Lamont was identified as the passenger. During the arrest, police recovered a pry bar and a silver Westwood High School class ring that one of the break-in victims had reported stolen, authorities said.
Police obtained a search warrant for both suspects’ homes and the truck, and discovered numerous pieces of stolen jewelry, including gold and silver bracelets, necklaces, and rings. Additional investigation revealed that more of the stolen jewelry had been sold to local shops, officials said.
The joint investigation was the first under a mutual-aid agreement signed in March by 54 police chiefs in Middlesex, Norfolk, and Essex counties. The pact grants on-duty police officers authority to perform arrests, traffic stops, and investigations outside of their assigned communities.
“Police in Massachusetts are more connected and working more closely than ever before,” said Concord Police Chief William Chase. “Would-be burglars and robbers should consider themselves on notice.”
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The suspects could face additional charges if more victims come forward, officials said.
“This shows what communities can do when they work together,” said Sudbury Police Chief Scott Nix.
Catalina Gaitan can be reached at catalina.gaitan@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter at @catalina_gaitan.