Police roused the owner of Harvard Outdoor Power Equipment out of bed just after 2:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 1, after an officer discovered that the cable used to lock the chain-link gate on the property had been severed. Mike O’Malley, who has owned the business for almost 10 years, called the theft of a pickup truck, large trailer, and several high-end lawn mowers “brazen.” There is a strong suspect in the case, according to Police Officer William Castro, who noted that there are a large number of clues to investigate. The crime fits a pattern of other thefts in adjoining towns that may be the work of an organized ring of thieves specializing in lawn and garden equipment, he added.
The business has been robbed before, O’Malley said in an interview, but never this extensively. The whole incident came as something of a shock to him, he said, noting that Harvard is known for its low crime rate.
“We’re in a town where you don’t expect that kind of thing,” he said, adding that he was grateful for the watchful eye of Harvard police.
While he is insured against theft and is in the process of completing that paperwork, O’Malley said the whole experience has been unpleasant at best.
According to Castro, the matter is still under investigation by Harvard police as well as law enforcement departments in the other towns that have experienced similar crimes, and he anticipates that the suspect will be arraigned on charges of felony theft in the near future.
