Two-Town Crime Spree Ends When Police Catch Suspect With Firefighter's Car

Police got a call about a car screeching its tires after midnight on Belmont Street, and when they caught the suspect, they discovered he had stolen two cars, including one from the Fire Station on Orchard Street.

Watetown Police arrested Bryan C. Vernazza of Arlington, on multiple charges, including larceny of a motor vehicle, said Watertown Police Sgt. Thomas Grady.

“He took the car from behind the fire station and started driving like a maniac, drawing attention to himself,” Grady said.

Police went to the area and found a Toyota Camry, Grady said, and they followed the man who got out of the car onto Hovey Street.

Officers searched the area and found a van on Loomis Avenue — near the fire station — that had been taken from Bon Appetit Catering in Belmont. Inside, they found electronics, kitchen tools and clothing, Grady said. Some of the items include an iPod and a Tom Tom GPS.

Items had been taken from three vehicles in the area, Grady said.

Vernazza was arrested and turned over to Belmont Police, where he faced charges of receiving stolen motor vehicle, breaking and entering, nighttime and receiving stolen property.

that opened when they pressed the unlock button on the key chain, according to Belmont Police. They towed it to the Belmont Police Station and when it was searched they found stolen credit cards with white powder residue on them and what appeared to be methamphetamine, knives and binoculars.

The car stolen from the fire station belonged to a Watertown Fire Fighter, Grady said.

“He didn’t realize it was gone,” Grady said. “It had been left unlocked and a set of keys was left in the console.”

Vernazza, 23, was arrested on charges of larceny of a motor vehicle and nighttime breaking and entering, Grady said.