LAWRENCE — Police said an unusually cooperative thief helped officers return a GPS and other items he stole from unlocked cars to their owners early yesterday morning.
Shane Mercier, 21, of 32 Sylvester St., was walking outside a Tedeschi food shop at around 2:30 a.m. in the Mt. Vernon neighborhood when he was stopped by officers investigating a report of car breaks in the area. Mercier promptly pulled out a stolen GPS from his pocket.
"'I think this is what you are looking for,'" Mercier told the officers, according to a police report written by Sgt. Carleton Trombly.
Police said Mercier admitted to breaking into a number of unlocked cars parked on Jefferson and Danforth Streets. In addition to the Tom Tom GPS, Mercier stole a cell phone, cash and gift cards to Walmart, Dunkin Donuts and Kmart, police said.
After he was arrested and placed in handcuffs, police said Mercier helped officers retrace his steps in the neighborhood and return the stolen items to their owners.
"If the car was locked he simply went on to the next car," said police Chief John Romero. "If one was open he'd rummage through it and see what he could get. And he gladly admitted to it."
Mercier was charged with three counts of breaking and entering a vehicle at night, receiving stolen property over $250, larceny over $250, and attempting to commit a crime.
Among the cars Mercier broke into were a 2004 Mercedes C240, 2003 Nissan Altima and a 1998 Buick Regal. Romero said all three cars were left unlocked by their owners.
"He didn't break the window. He didn't damage the lock," said Romero. "We've said it again and again. This should be a good example. People should lock their doors."
Romero said it's not uncommon for criminals to cooperate with police after they're caught.
"For the most part, they're not as cooperative as this individual," said Romero. "I don't think he expected to get caught. And when he got caught, I think he said, 'The jig is up.'"
According to the report written by Trombly, Mercier asked police to drive back to his home on Sylvester Street so he could more easily retrace his steps and identify cars he broke into.
"I stopped the cruiser at this point and read him his rights," wrote Trombly. "I explained that he did not have to tell me anything and he stated he wanted to so this whole thing could be over."
