MASSACHUSETTS COMPUTERS STOLENThe Enterprise at SouthofBoston.comBy Terrence J. Downing, Enterprise staff writer
TAUNTON — Raids at two homes have netted police over $50,000 in stolen construction tools and electronics taken by a ring of thieves during a wave of break-ins over past six months.

Patrolman Peter J. Corr said Saturday the investigation is widening and they expect more arrests and to recover more stolen goods. "We're still going," said Corr, who has headed the investigation with Patrolman Eric Nichols.

Police recovered over $20,000 in goods during a raid Thursday night at 46 Pine St., and even more during a raid Friday night at 2 Winter Ave. Heroin and cocaine were also seized in the raid where four people were arrested in drug charges.

Jacob Rickell, 24, of 46 Pine St., has been charged with receiving stolen property while Joseph Demers and Laura Branco of 2 Winter Ave., will be summonsed into court.

Jason M. Correia, 20, of 290 Whittenton St., and Arthur Meack IV, 24, of 14 Liberty St., in East Taunton, have been arrested on unrelated charges but police expect to file additional charges them in connection with the thefts.

Corr said victims of the ring have been coming to the police station to claim their property, which has filled an evidence room. One of those victims, Adam Almeida, 56, of Taunton, came to the station Saturday afternoon with one of his workers, Joseph Baptiste.

Almeida, a self-employed home improvement contractor said the thieves nearly put him out of business when they stole $4,000 worth of tools from his shop three weeks ago.

"They took all my good tools. Everything I have. They backed up a truck and took everything," said Almeida.

Almeida said he was devastated. "I worked very hard to buy those tools as I built up my business," said Almeida.

Almeida said he had always done home improvement work part-time to help his family, but he began it full-time several years ago when the company he worked for in the industrial park, Decatur Hopkins, closed.

Almeida said he has recovered $1,000 worth of tools so far and he's grateful for police breaking the case. He said he has had to spent thousands of dollars in his family's Christmas gift money to buy new tools.

Corr said members of the ring drove around nightly casing neighborhoods looking for targets.

"The victims are people who are working hard every day to make a living and support their families," said Corr. "These kids are going out there stealing for drugs.

The ring specialized in construction tools, but they also stole computer equipment, stereos, cell phones, TVs, VCRs, computer games, CDs, digital cameras and even a clothes iron.

The tools included compressors, saws, drills, nail guns, tool boxes, power washers, battery chargers, wet-dry vacs, weed wackers, saws, electrical items, and hedge trimmers.

Police also recovered a sawed-off shotgun, stun gun and a safe full of ammunition. They said the break-ins began last June and continued through this week.

Corr said the thieves used trucks to haul away the stolen goods. He said the thieves even stole from police officers who had tools at work sites.

Police said the ring sold the goods and used the money to buy drugs and in other cases they traded the goods for drugs.

Corr said they fear much of the stolen items have already been sold or traded and may never be recovered.