Police Catch Thief Breaking into Vehicle in the Act

 On Tuesday, January 29 at around 4 p.m., officers were patrolling the area near Public Alley 436 after a rash of recent vehicle break-ins. Officers  parked an unmarked car in the alleyway with a Dell Laptop Computer in the passenger seat in clear view and waited. At 4:45 p.m., officers observed a man on a bike drive by and check out cars in the area then leave.

At 5:55 p.m., officers observed the man return to the area on foot. Officers observed the man wind up and throw an object through the window of the unmarked vehicle. The suspect grabbed the computer and took it out of the vehicle. When officers converged on the scene, the suspect threw the computer in the middle of the street and got on his bike.

The suspect fled down Calderon Street towards Commonwealth Avenue. Detectives chased the suspect. An officer stepped up and tackled the suspect on Commonwealth Avenue. After a brief struggle, officers were able to take the suspect into custody.

Officers charged Osvaldo Gomez of 8 Alley Street, Hyde Park with larceny from a motor vehicle, $200 or more.