Would-Be Burlington Burglar Foiled By Alarm, Detective

BURLINGTON, MA — A Whitman man who police say tried to break into a Burlington home on Wednesday was arrested one day later when he was spotted by a Burlington police detective working a traffic detail on Cambridge Street. Nichola Gormley, 24, of Whitman, was charged with unlicenced operation of a motor vehicle, carrying a firearm without a license, possession of ammunition without an FID card, receiving stolen property over $1,200, possession of a class A drug, attempt to commit a crime (breaking and entering during the daytime and possession of a large capacity feeding device.

Police responded to a call of an attempted break-in at a Burlington house on Wednesday, where they found a broken basement window. Burlington Police Detective James Hanafin determined the suspect fled after an audible alarm went off in the home. Police were able to view footage from a doorbell camera and see the suspect walking on the back deck of the home.

On Thursday, Hanafin was working a traffic detail on Cambridge Street when he spotted a man driving a blue Jeep SUV that looked like the man that looked like the man in the video footage. After stopping the Jeep, Hanafin arrested Gormley when he could not produce a license or registration.

During a search of the Jeep, police found shotgun and ammunition, suspected drug paraphernalia, jewelry, a Burberry backpack, binoculars and other goods that officers had probable cause to believe was stolen. Gormley is not licensed to carry a firearm.

"It was fortunate that Detective Hanafin had seen the footage personally, and that those homeowners had taken the precaution to put a high quality surveillance camera in place," Burlington Police Chief Michael Kent said. "Detective Hanafin's vigilance and alertness enabled him locate and arrest this individual."

Gormely was scheduled to be arraigned in Woburn District Court on Wednesday.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).