ROCKPORT — A young man already facing felony charges stemming from his alleged role in a Bearskin Neck burglary this summer was arrested again after admitting he broke into the YMCA Ben Beyea Youth & Teen Center over the weekend.
Justin Todd, 18, of 1 Kitefield Road, was charged Tuesday with breaking and entering a building in the daytime with intent to commit a felony, larceny from a building, and two counts of malicious destruction of property worth more than $250.
Police responded Monday when teen center staff reported that someone had apparently broken into the facility Sunday and stole $20 from a cash box.
Police said recently installed surveillance cameras captured the suspect on tape. And Teen Center Director Nikki Klink identified the individual captured on film as Todd, police said.
The video showed a person break into the building through a window, proceed to break down a door to the kitchen area and rifle through the cash box that proved to be missing $20, Klink told police.
Todd was called into the police station Tuesday night, and was immediately placed under arrest.
According to Officer Philip Wesley's statement, Todd agreed to participate in an interview with Wesley and Sgt. Robert Tibert after they told him there was video footage of the break-in, that Klink had seen the footage and identified him, and that officers observed the shirt he was wearing in the video was the same shirt he was wearing when booked for the previous arrest.
At that point, Todd reportedly told police he went to the teen center, pushed in an already broken window and forced the kitchen door open on a mission to find "cash." Klink told police Todd was in the teen center Saturday and was given a meal.
While Todd confessed to breaking into the building, he told police he did not take any money.
In the prior case, police arrested Todd on Sept. 1 after he reportedly confessed to breaking into Roy Moore Lobster Co. twice in late August and stealing approximately $220. Todd was charged with two counts of breaking and entering in the night and conspiracy to commit a felony. In that incident, which also involved Todd's 20-year-old brother Christopher, the siblings admitted to using the loot buy Lottery tickets, and Christopher Todd lamented to police that the pair "didn't even win."
Klink said yesterday it was too early to determine whether or not Todd would ever be allowed back into the center.
"We'd have to come up with a disciplinary plan and decide if he'll be allowed back, he wouldn't be immediately allowed back," she said yesterday.
Klink said she and her staff at the teen center communicate everything possible to the police and are committed to working with law enforcement in an attempt to "get these kids to learn lessons."
However, Klink indicated she also believes in second chances and aims to maintain the teen center as a place where teens can speak to someone about their issues without feeling judged.
Discipline and consequences are handled on a case-by-case basis, said Cape Ann YMCA Executive Director Rick Doucette.
"When the law has been broken, and youth fully accept responsibility and accountability for their actions, we work collaboratively with parents, school and law enforcement officials to help the child redeem themselves," he said.
Over the last 18 months, a handful of teen center visitors have seemingly taken advantage of the staff's forgiving ways, with a number of break-ins and vandalism incidents reported during that time period, some involving teens who have frequented the facility.
The activity led teen center employees to implement a security plan — including motion sensor lights and the installation of the surveillance cameras that played a role in Todd's apprehension.
Jonathan L'Ecuyer can be reached at 978-283-7000 x 3451 or jlecuyer@gloucestertimes.com.
