Sneaker Prints Help Police Identify Suspect

A man’s sneaker prints gave him away Wednesday, as investigated a house-break on Bedford Road.

According to police, sneaker prints were found at the scene of two Bedford Road break-ins. Those prints helped identify suspect Nicholas Colby Jewett, 20, of 45 Marlboro Road, who allegedly broke into the homes and stole several small items.

Jewett was arrested and charged with carrying a dangerous weapon (a switchblade knife), breaking and entering in the daytime for a felony charge (two counts), larceny over $250 and possessing burglarious instruments at 3:29 p.m. Wednesday afternoon.

Woburn Police Officer Brian Foley and Sgt. Charles Stokes responded to a Bedford Road residence at 1:37 p.m. Wednesday for a report of a break-in. According to police, an iPad, several dollars in quarters and prescription medication were taken from the home.

Police observed that a window of the home was open and the blinds disturbed.

“I also observed a footprint on the ground, in the middle of which was a mushroom or other type of fungi, which held the impression of a footwear design in the form of geometric waves,” said Officer Foley.

Sgt. Stokes reported that the door of a neighboring home was also open, and police entered the residence.

“The first evidence recovered were numerous footprints on the floor of the same geometric-shaped tread pattern as seen at the [original] crime scene,” said Officer Foley, adding that the iPad and quarters, as well as prescription medicine, were also found in the neighboring home.

During the investigation, Detective Michael Pandolph said Jewett, who is known to police for various incidents in the area, was seen walking. When approached by police, Jewett was found to be carrying a switchblade knife, said Inspector Pandolph.

“[I] viewed Jewett’s footwear,” said Det. Pandolph. “The soles of his sneakers bore similar patterns to the footwear impressions found at the two burglaries.”

The detective reported that Jewett’s Nike sneakers were taken to the two crime scenes and held up to the impressions.

“The Nike sneakers matched the size of the impressions,” said Det. Pandolph. “The diagonal designs on the soles of Jewett’s Nikes matched the diagonal designs found in the backyard of [the original crime scene] and the circular design on the soles of Jewett’s sneakers matched circular designs inside [the second crime scene.]”