Boston Man Indicted For String of Local Thefts

A Middlesex Superior Court grand jury has indicted Craig Cromartie, 44, of Dorchester, on charges that he burglarized apartments and homes in Waltham and other area communities.

According to the Middlesex County District Attorney's Office, Cromartie faces five counts of unarmed burglary, four counts of attempted unarmed burlgary, breaking and entering into a building with intent to commit a felony, five counts of possession of burglarious tools, five counts of receiving stolen property, two counts of wanton destruction of property, being an habitual offender, being a common and notorious thief and being a common and notorious receiver.

“We allege this defendant has been burglarizing homes in Middlesex County and throughout Eastern Massachusetts,” said Middlesex County District Attorney Gerry Leone said.  “I applaud the dedicated work of the multiple law enforcement agencies that have collaborated to ensure that this defendant is held accountable for his actions.”

Authorities charged Cromartie earlier this month after a lengthy investigation. 

Police in Brookline, as well as Natick, Framingham, Medford, Waltham, Newton, Cambridge, Needham, Dedham, Wellesley, and Boston are investigating the case, according to the DA's office.

Police recently searched a Framingham hotel room Cromartie had been staying in and found items stolen during recent robberies, including jewlery, clothing and handbags. The burglaries occurred from December of 2011 to June of 2012, according to the DA's office. 

Cromartie is facining similar charges in Suffolk and Norfolk County. 

Cromartie was initially arrested on June 18, when detectives suspect he was responsible for upwards of 200 break-ins which netted over a million dollars in stolen merchandise, (from a report by FOX-25 TV news).

Later in June, Natick Police posted photos to their Facebook page of dozens of items recovered, including rings, watches, currency, silverware and other items. Believing owners could be in any of the communities Cromartie was allegedly active in--Brookline included.