Derry Man Arrested for Theft by Deception in Portsmouth

It took nearly a year but Portsmouth Police have filed a charge against a mechanic who detectives alleged swindled nearly $400 from a customer.

Paul A. Perry, 49, of Derry, was arrested on Nov. 21, on a theft by deception charge.

According to police, a customer of Monro Muffler on Woodbury Avenue in Portsmouth reportedly paid the company $396.51 to replace the shock absorbers on their car. The agreement was made on Jan. 9.

However, police allege that one of the store’s mechanics, Perry, allegedly never put in new shocks. Instead, detectives allege that Perry took out the shocks, spray-painted them black, and reinstalled the old shocks.

A warrant was taken out on Perry and he turned himself in. He’s due in court on Jan. 5, 2015.

The NH State Police Troop G Special Investigations Task Force, according to a report, helped with the investigation.

Police are asking for anyone who might know about this crime or similar crimes, to touch base with Detective Rochelle Jones at 603-610-7503.

Editor’s note: The following post was derived from information supplied by the Portsmouth Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction. Click this link to find out how to get a name removed from a New Hampshire Patch arrest report.