ESSEX — Two Essex men are facing charges of receiving stolen property after police who pulled their vehicle over in a traffic stop recovered a number of items allegedly stolen from around the North Shore.
According to police officers, 20-year-old Benjamin Zwart of Harry Homans Drive and 19-year-old Cameron D’Andrea of Sumac Drive were stopped shortly before 1 a.m. Wednesday on Eastern Avenue due to alleged faulty equipment.
After officer James Romeos stopped the car, he smelled an odor of marijuana. After a search of the vehicle, police discovered a small amount of the drug and paraphernalia along with numerous electronics that had been reported as stolen.
Essex Police Chief Peter Silva said Thursday that he estimates the various electronics are valued at around $2,000. He said the Essex Police Department is working with other departments in the area to determine where the items were stolen from, and how to best return them to their rightful owners. So far, police have returned one GPS device to its owner in Hamilton.
Zwart was arrested and is facing charges of receiving stolen property greater than $250, operating with a revoked registration, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, operating an unregistered motor vehicle, defective motor vehicle equipment, as well as a civil citation for the marijuana.
D’Andrea was not arrested at the scene, but is facing a charge of receiving stolen property greater than $250.
Silva reiterated the importance of keeping valuables and personal items safely locked away, in cars and homes alike.
Around 10 a.m. on Wednesday, police stopped a car on Martin Street for a motor vehicle infraction. As a result Jose Pereira, 45 of Statens Street in Gloucester is being summonsed for operating a motor vehicle without a valid license.
Residents reported a leaking vehicle fluid at an Eastern Avenue business Thursday at 10:19 a.m. Police were able to make contact with the owner of the truck, who soon cleaned up the puddle left in the parking lot.
James Niedzinski can be reached at 978-283-7000, x 3455 or at jniedzinski@gloucestertimes.com.
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