Concord Man Charged in Merrimack Thefts

A Concord man is facing felony charges after he was arrested in connection with the theft of landscaping equipment from local businesses in Merrimack and Litchfield.

Joshua Hooper, 29, of 606 Alton Woods, Concord, was charged after a month-long investigation with a count of theft, a class A felony, and one count of burglary, a class B felony, police said.

Hooper's arrest was a combined effort by and police who discovered evidence in Hooper's Alton Woods complex carport early in September, police say.

The evidence found was ultimately traced back to a local landscape company and granite monument business in Merrimack, police say.

The majority of items seized by Concord Police included gas-powered landscape equipment and various tools, police say.

Hooper faces additional charges from the Concord Police Department, expected to be filed in the next few days, relating to further items seized from his carport.

As part of the investigation, police say they used surveillance footage taken at a Litchfield pizza shop and from a business just off Wright Avenue in Merrimack, which captured a green Toyota FJ Cruiser and landscape trailer said to be used during the thefts.

Hooper was arraigned in Merrimack's district court and is being held on $25,000 cash or corporate surety bail. His probable cause hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 29, at 8:30 a.m.