Police K-9 Unit Locates, Arrests Methuen, MA, Self-Storage Burglar

A police officer and her K-9 partner tracked and found a burglar last week who was hiding at the U-Haul Moving & Storage facility in Methuen, Massachusetts. After alarms sounded at just after 2 a.m. on Nov. 24, the officers discovered Juan Rivera, 42, hiding in a third-floor self-storage unit at 145 Milk St., according to the source.

Officer Christine Nicolosi and her K-9 partner, Kilo, were called in to search the property for an intruder. The dog led officers to a storage unit containing several large cabinets. Rivera, who was hiding in one of the cabinets, responded verbally to officers’ demands to surrender and was placed under arrest. He was in possession of two screwdrivers, a flashlight and keys for a vehicle parked nearby on Timber Lane, the source reported.

Other than the alarm, there were no signs of forced entry at the storage property, though the facility manager said drawers and cabinets in the front office had been pried open and two video monitors were missing. They were later found in the building.

“This suspect was well-hidden, deep inside a large commercial building and far from the most visible evidence of the crimes of which he is accused,” said police chief Scott McNamara. “The assistance K-9 Kilo and his unique skills provided to this investigation were absolutely critical.”

Rivera has been charged with breaking and entering, possession of burglary tools and malicious destruction of property under $1,200. Police are investigating whether he could be involved in other break-ins in the area, including a previous one at the same U-Haul facility.

Established in 1945, U-Haul owns and manages nearly 71 million square feet of storage space nationwide.

Source:
The Eagle Tribune, Methuen K-9 Unit Locates, Arrests Man Hiding During Break-In