LAWRENCE — An antique firearm and a smoke grenade stolen during a Tuesday morning break into a Hillside Avenue house were recovered in Lowell, police said.
John Cook, 35, of Lowell was arrested at his home Tuesday afternoon by Lowell police and charged with receiving stolen property over $250, illegal possession of a firearm, and possession of an infernal machine (smoke grenade).
Lawrence police Chief John Romero said investigators would seek arrest warrants in Lawrence District Court for Cook and a woman who has admitted involvement in the housebreak.
Officer Felix Gonzalez was sent to the home of JoAnn and Peter Warren at 10 Hillside Ave., about 9:59 a.m. Tuesday for a reported housebreak.
"When I got there there were guns everywhere," Gonzalez said.
Connie Foss, daughter of JoAnn Warren, told Gonzalez her house had been broken into by her brother's ex-girlfriend and the woman was seen leaving the house with the man, later identified as Cook.
During the investigation, officers found a gun case containing a Smith & Wesson .357-Magnum revolver, six rifles and a shotgun all unsecured in the bedroom.
A case containing three other handguns was empty, leading to fears all three had been stolen, but two were later found in the room, leaving just the firearm allegedly stolen by Cook, police said.
The ex-girlfriend told police she and two friends went to the home about 9 a.m. Tuesday, went inside, and filled up black duffel bags with property, including a Nintendo Wii video game console, a Sony PlayStation game console, the antique firearm and the smoke grenade. They then drove to Cook's home in Lowell with the stolen property, which was recovered when Cook was arrested, police said.
During the investigation, police learned Peter Warren's firearms identification card had expired.
Romero said Gonzalez will put in for a clerk magistrate's hearing to determine whether Warren should be charged with multiple counts of possession of a firearm without a firearms identification card, possession of ammunition without a firearms identification card, and improper storage of a firearm.
Police seized the guns pending the completion of the investigation.
