By George P. Hassett
Police arrested two Somerville men and a Wilmington man Thursday in connection with a series of car break-ins where GPS navigation systems were stolen.
Kevin Banos, 28 and his brother Jeffrey Banos, 26, both of Somerville and Christopher Aurilio, 24, of Wilmington, were arrested and charged with seven counts of receiving stolen property and conspiracy to commit larceny last night. All three were scheduled to appear in Somerville District Court this morning.
Somerville police have been investigating a series of car break-ins that have occurred in Somerville and surrounding communities in the past week. Detectives began investigating the actions of Kevin Banos as part of the operation. Police said Banos was observed acting suspiciously in shopping mall parking lots in recent days.
The Banos brothers were allegedly monitored by police Thursday night as they met with Aurilio at the Market Basket parking lot at 400 Somerville Ave. In the lot, Aurilio allegedly received a bag from the Banos brothers.
Shortly after leaving the parking lot, Aurilio was stopped by police for a motor vehicle infraction and the bag he received from the Banos' was discovered to have seven GPS navigaion systems believed to be stolen, police said.
Aurilio was immediately arrested. Kevin and Jeffrey Banos were arrested at their home a short time later.
Capt. Paul Upton said Somerville and surrounding cities are experiencing an extraordinary number of car break-ins.
"Crme is down but this one category is killing us," he said.
The items driving the larcenies are mainly GPS devices, satellite radios and ipods, he said.
"People who leave these things in plain view are fueling break-ins. We're trying to get people to secure them in the trunks of their cars because it is so simple to break into a car," he said.
The arrests were made by Detectives John Oliveira, mario Oliveira, Ernest Nadile and Michael Kiely.
"Crme" is down, eh? You guys got a spell check on that computer?
Posted by: Charles | April 06, 2007 at 03:05 PM
Christopher Aurilio....hmmm the name rings a bell. Any Somerville roots ?
Posted by: Born Here | April 06, 2007 at 05:32 PM
Chris Aurilio is the son of Jim Aurilio of the Somerville DPW.
F-ing A! My GPS was stolen in October. Can I have it back, Chris????
Posted by: I want my GPS back! | April 07, 2007 at 02:18 PM
any images of these perps anywhere? are these the same three guys in hoodies working the streets around davis square?
Posted by: perp walk | April 07, 2007 at 02:22 PM
Good work, Somerville Police!
Posted by: Kate | April 09, 2007 at 11:45 AM
How come these News channel watchdogs are better at catching thieves? I saw an episode where they put a GPS or other tracking device on bikes, the bikes were easily stolen and then the news guys tracked the crooks down to interview them. How about putting some GPS's or similar lowjacks in GPS's and then letting them get stolen.
Sounds like an easy catch to me!
Posted by: Blogger X | April 10, 2007 at 04:06 PM
Kevin is a homo.. glad he was finally arrested that four digit freak.
Posted by: Paul | March 24, 2008 at 06:55 AM