METHUEN — A 41-year-old Lawrence man arrested on motor vehicle violation charges early Thursday morning and then released is facing additional charges in connection with a string of car breaks that occurred just before he was arrested, police said.
Capt. Randy Haggar said Officer Mark Aiello was on patrol in the Merrimack Street area at Fenwick Circle for a report of a car break about 5:50 a.m. Thursday when he spotted a Honda Accord leaving the area and called in for a license listing on the car.
When he was told the registration had been revoked, Aiello pulled the car over in front of Haffner's Gas Station on Merrimack Street.
After an investigation, Martin Lopez, 41, of 17 Tewksbury St., Lawrence, was arrested and charged with driving after suspension of his license and driving after revocation of his registration.
Haggar said a gas station attendant told Aiello a white Jeep Grand Cherokee had been left at the pumps and the driver had fled into the woods upon seeing the traffic stop.
One of the car break victims was brought to the scene and identified the Honda as the one she had seen leaving Fenwick Circle.
Lopez was booked at the police station on the motor vehicle charges and released on bail, Haggar said.
When Aiello went to Sheehan's Towing to conduct an inventory of the contents of Lopez' car, he found stolen property including three GPS devices, a DVD player and an iPod personal stereo inside.
The items were taken from cars on Campbell Street, Messina Circle, Thornton Avenue, Sorrento Avenue and Fenwick Circle, police said.
Haggar said police believe the driver of the Jeep Grand Cherokee left at the gas station was working with Lopez.
The owner of the Jeep came to the gas station to get her vehicle and the driver is believed to be her boyfriend, Haggar said.
Police have now obtained arrest warrants for Lopez charging him with possession of burglary tools and six counts of receiving stolen property under $250.
