Alleged Burglar Caught By Cops Inside Store: Report

MANCHESTER, NH — A local man with a long criminal history was arrested again yesterday morning after police allegedly caught him in the act of burglarizing a Queen City convenience store, according to police. Nicholas Santos, 26, of Pembroke, was arrested on a felony burglary charge at just after 4 a.m. on June 22, 2017, after officers were sent to Cedar Street for a possibly burglary in progress. When they arrived at Juba Market, they “immediately observed a subject inside of the closed business,” according to Lt. Brian O’Keefe of the Manchester Police Department.

Editor’s Note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Manchester Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the name removal request process for NH Patch police reports.

“The man appeared to be striking the cash register drawer with an unknown object,” O’Keefe alleged. “They entered the business and placed him into custody without incident.”

The man – later identified as Santos – allegedly was able to gain access to the cash register but failed to pry open an ATM machine. The storeowner arrived at the scene, assessed the damage, and notified officers about the amount of money missing from the register. After searching Santos, officers allegedly found him to be in possession “of a similar amount of cash missing from the register.”

Santos was arrested and charged. He was arraigned in Manchester District Court yesterday.

Santos, according to reports online and on Patch sites, has a number of priors.

In January 2016, he was arrested by Londonderry Police on a burglary warrant. He was picked up in Middleton, MA, and transported back to New Hampshire. A month later, he was arrested by Rockingham County Sheriffs on a judge’s order to arrest for failure to appear at the arraignment of a burglary charge. Derry Police also charged him on a warrant arrest. In March 2016, while in prison in Berlin, he was arrested again by sheriffs.

In February 2015, he was arrested in Methuen, MA, on a fugitive from justice charge. Rockingham sheriffs also arrested him in March 2015, on a judge’s order to arrest for court fees violation on an operating after suspension charge. Santoas was also arrested by Pembroke Police on a Merrimack County warrant in March 2015. A month later, he was arrested by Somersworth Police on an attempt to commit charge. In November 2015, he was arrested on a criminal solicitation to commit theft by deception in Derry.