Mass. Man Steals Two Cars in NH, Refuses to Stop, Bagged Hiding in Lawrence: NHSP

MANCHESTER, NH — A Bay State man arrested about two weeks ago after a shoplifting and fleeing incident in Manchester has been arrested again after allegedly stealing two vehicles and being pursued in two-states, according to New Hampshire State Police. Joseph M. Hart, 35, of Westborough, MA, was arrested on Jan. 13, 2017, on fugitive from justice charges.

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

At just before 8 a.m. this morning, Manchester Police attempted to stop a reported stolen vehicle – a 1996 Chevrolet pickup truck – on Elm Street. The driver – later identified as Hart – allegedly refused to stop and fled from police by way of I-93 south.

In Londonderry, Queen City police passed the pursuit onto state troopers who located the vehicle and deployed spike strips near Exit 4. The truck hit the strips and stopped near Mile Marker 10 in Derry where Hart allegedly fled into a wooded area.

“At this time the State Police fixed-wing aircraft, who was in the immediate area conducting motor vehicle enforcement, responded quickly to the incident,” according to Lt. N.A. Noyes of the NHSP. “Once on-scene, troopers positioned in the aircraft were able to follow Hart as he fled on foot into Derry.”

Troopers in the air tracked Hart and allegedly watched him steal a 2015 Chevrolet Malibu that from a home where the owner had left the vehicle running, according to Noyes. Hart reportedly drove the Malibu into Windham, where Windham Police attempted to stop him.

“Again, Hart refused to stop for law enforcement and a second pursuit traveled onto I-93 and proceeded southbound where NH Troopers once again got involved,” Noyes alleged. “The aircraft and pursuing troopers followed Hart into Massachusetts where members of the Massachusetts State Police and the Lawrence Police Department immediately got involved.”

Hart allegedly pulled the vehicle into a DPW garage on Auburn Street and fled on foot into an apartment building on Chestnut Street. He was reportedly found hiding in a crawlspace attic by Mass. State Police’s K-9 unit.

Hart, according to Noyes, was arraigned today and will be extradited back to New Hampshire where he will answer to charges issued by NHSP as well as the Manchester, Derry, and Windham police departments.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is requested to contact Trooper M. Hicks and Trooper D. Roger at the NH State Police – Troop B barracks at 603-223-4381.

Back on Dec. 28, 2016, Hart was arrested by Manchester Police for shoplifting, resisting arrest, and falsifying physical evidence, after he allegedly stole items from Walmart and then, attempted to flee from police, according to a post on Bedford NH Patch.