Tuning Into Suspicious Activity Helps One Dutiful Detail Officer Click the Cuffs on Two Suspects Trying to Steal a Television in West Roxbury

At about 12:46pm, on Tuesday, February 14, 2012, an officer performing a paid detail on Area E-5 (West Roxbury) observed two males acting suspiciously in the area of 119 Spring Street. Specifically, the detail officer’s attention was drawn to the individuals due the fact that they were unsafely towing a large television on a metal dolly behind their motor vehicle. As a result of the odd and unsafe configuration, the detail officer approached the individuals to further investigate and better understand the situation. When asked how they came to possess the television, the suspects stated that a friend told them that the television was theirs for the taking, all they had to do was stop by and pick it up. Officers responded to the address where the suspects said their friend lived. On arrival, officers inspected the property and promptly noticed scratch and pry marks all around a sliding glass door in the rear of the property. Upon entering the location, officers noticed that the residence was in disarray with various items and pieces of furniture strewn about the location.

Officers were able to contact the owner of the property who stated that, not only did she not know the suspects, but permission was never given to anyone to enter the property for the purposes of picking up the television.

A search of the suspects enabled officers to see and take possession of two screwdrivers and a pair of pliers.

Officers arrested Constantine Papantoniadis, 34, of Boston and Stephen Costigan, 59, of Boston and charged both with Breaking & Entering a Dwelling, Possession of Burglarious Tools and the Receiving Stolen Property.