FROM THE REGION.

• Position: LOCAL NEWS

The following correction was published in the Telegram & Gazette on May 3, 2012:

SOUTHBRIDGE - Investigators said Moises Ortega, a suspect in about 30 house break-ins, was observed on video allegedly pawning jewelry at Cormier Jewelers in Southbridge. Because of information from Southbridge police, a story in Tuesday's Telegram & Gazette incorrectly described where the items were allegedly stolen from.

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COLUMN: FROM THE REGION

Westboro

Former resident charged in meat, jewelry thefts

WESTBORO - A former Westboro resident has been charged in two separate thefts in April, of beef and bracelets.

Schuyler D. Gibson, 28, of 39 Vernon St., Worcester, has been charged with stealing packaged meat from Stop & Shop on Lyman Street on April 14 and with stealing jewelry from a home on Adams Street on April 22.

Mr. Gibson and Brian E. Gernrich, 44, of 5 S. Cambridge St., Worcester, also formerly of Westboro, were caught on camera allegedly stealing $448 of packaged meat from the grocery store.

Chief Al Gordon said the two men had put the meat in a shopping cart and handcart and slipped out of the store unnoticed, but they were caught on surveillance video, and the men in the video later were identified as Mr. Gibson and Mr. Gernrich.

A week later, police were investigating a report of a house break-in on Adams Street in which a large amount of jewelry was stolen.

Chief Gordon did not say the exact worth of the jewelry, but said a "pretty valuable amount" was taken and sold to a jewelry store in Solomon Pond Mall for cash.

As part of the jewelry theft investigation, police go to local pawn shops and jewelry stores to see if the items have been sold for cash. Chief Gordon said reputable pawn shops and jewelry stores will take a photo of the jewelry and make a copy of the seller's identification.

The Adams Street resident identified her stolen jewelry that was sold to the store.

Mr. Gibson was later one of two men identified as having sold the stolen jewelry at the mall. The other was Kevin T. Donnelly, 22, of 46 Londonderry Road, Grafton, also a former Westboro resident.

Some of the stolen jewelry has been recovered, Chief Gordon said.

Mr. Gibson was arrested Wednesday in Worcester by Worcester and Westboro detectives, and Mr. Gernrich was arrested by Worcester police. Both men were arraigned in Westboro District Court.

Mr. Gibson is charged with two counts of larceny over $250 - one for Stop & Shop and one for the jewelry - and one count of breaking and entering in the daytime. Mr. Gernrich is charged with one count of larceny over $250 in the Stop & Shop...