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Police nab suspect in Wenham burglary try

By Bruno Matarazzo Jr.
Staff Writer
Published: July 1, 2009

WENHAM — Police arrested a 20-year-old Hamilton man yesterday following a search of the woods around a Gussett Road home, where a break-in was reported.

Christopher Mackey, 20, of 12 Western Ave., will be arraigned today at Ipswich District Court in Newburyport on charges of breaking and entering in the daytime to commit a felony.

Police were called to Gussett Road, just off Grapevine Road near Gordon College, at 3:10 p.m. for a burglary in progress.

Police said a homeowner was home when she told police she heard someone attempt to get in the front door.

With the front door locked, police Sgt. Jeffrey Tobey said Mackey went to try the back door.

But, police said, the homeowner beat him to it and was able to lock the door before Mackey could open it.

"When he saw her at the door, he ran into the woods," Tobey said.

Police set up a perimeter around the area and found Mackey about 45 minutes later when he came out of a yard and tried to make it appear he was just out for a walk, Tobey said.

Wenham police Detective Sgt. Mark Fraser and Hamilton Detective Ken Nagy recognized Mackey from the description given by the homeowner.

Police searched the woods and found a bag of clothes and burglary tools they said belongs to Mackey.

Taking part in the search were Tobey, Fraser, Jonathan Gray, William Foley, David Marsh and Capt. Tom Perkins. Search dogs from the state police and the Essex County Sheriff's Department also assisted.

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