Suspect in Norwood Charity Can Theft Arrested

NORWOOD, MA — A Boston man who allegedly stole a donation canister from a gas station in Norwood was arrested following a car crash in Wellesley, police said.

Lawrence Parnell, 42, will face charges in relation to the stolen donation canister, according to the Norwood Police Department. A woman who was with Parnell will not face charges because it is not believed that she knew that Parnell was allegedly going to steal the can.

Surveillance footage from the Mobil Gas Station on Route 1 in Norwood shows Parnell and a woman walking into the store Saturday. As the woman talks to the clerk, Parnell can be seen in video taking a Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Multiple Sclerosis Society donation can before walking out.

Monday, a license plate reader in Wellesley picked up the plate number of the vehicle used in the theft. Wellesley police attempted to stop the car, but it fled before crashing. Parnell was taken into custody shortly afterwards.

Police say they received numerous tips identifying Parnell as the person in the video.

Image Via Norwood Police Department