Police Tie Gronkowski Burglary To Tewksbury, Wilmington Break-Ins

TEWKSBURY, MA -- Police in Tewksbury confirmed Sunday that the man wanted as a suspect in the break-in at the home of New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is the same man they believe broke into two service stations last week before crashing his truck into a house in Andover and fleeing on foot. Last week Foxborough Police arrested one mana said they were looking for Shayne Denn, 26, of Tewksbury, and a third man as a suspects in the Gronkowski break-in while the player was away for last month's Super Bowl.

Now Tewksbury Police and police from Wilmington and Andover are looking to speak with Denn about an early-morning series of crimes in those towns last week. Last Thursday Wilmington Police responded to an alarm at 5 am at Jimmy's Garage, where a suspect allegedly rammed the building to gain entry for a burglary. At 6 am, Tewksbury Police responded to a report of a theft at a service station in Tewksbury.

Police believe the truck in those robberies is the same truck that crashed into a house on School Street in Andover shortly after the Tewksbury robbery was reported. The suspect in that crash fled on foot. Police in Tewksbury issued a warrant for Denn charging him with breaking and entering and larceny under $250 at Super Petroleum on Main Street, where he was an employee.

On Friday, police in Foxborough arrested Anthony Almeida, 31, of Randolph, and charged him with breaking and entering in the nighttime for a felony, two counts of receiving stolen property, and malicious destruction of property. Almeida allegedly broke into Gronkowski's house while the team was in Minnesota for last month's Super Bowl. He was arraigned that afternoon in Wrentham District Court, police said.

At the time of Almeida's arrest, police said they were looking for Denn and Eric Tyrrell, 28, of Foxborough, as suspects in the break-in. During the course of the investigation police have recovered an Apple Watch, a Rolex Watch and two 1800's rare coins that belong to Gronkowski, but they have not recovered other items, including, including firearms, police said.

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Photo by Wilmington Police.

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