Caller tips off police to UPS truck robbery, then leads them right to the suspects

LYNN-An alert resident of the Liberty Square Apartments is credited with helping police catch two men Wednesday accused of stealing packages from a UPS truck, police said.Johnathon A. Lopes, 20, of 124 Green St., Lynn and Bevon M. Riley, 23, of 15 Johnston Road, Dorchester were arrested and charged with breaking and entering into a truck with intent to commit a felony at about 5:30 p.m. Lopes was also charged with violating the city’s knife ordinance.Police say probably the only reason the suspects were caught was because an alert resident immediately called police when she saw the men stealing the packages and stayed on the phone with officers through the entire ordeal.”Efforts on the part of citizens, such as this, undoubtedly make our community a safer place,” Lynn police spokesperson Lt. Dave Brown said.While booking the suspects, police say they found a pay stub from Federal Express in Riley’s pocket dated in December, indicating that he may still work for the package courier ? one of the fiercest competitors of the United Parcel Service.Police say the thieves were likely looking for electronics or drugs. Oftentimes crooks often look for markings from an electronic company on the side of the box before they decide to take a package, police said.Officers allege Lopes actually got into the back of the UPS truck while the driver left the vehicle to make a delivery, while Riley acted as a look-out.The suspects got spooked when they saw the woman, and hopped into a red Mazda before driving toward the Lynnway, police said.Little did they know, the woman had written down the description of the car and the license plate number. She stayed on the phone with police the whole time as an officer initiated a traffic stop of the suspected vehicle on the Lynnway southbound near Pleasant Street.The woman later positively identified the suspects and they were taken into custody, police said.”I would like to credit the alert witness, who promptly notified police. As a result, the crime was thwarted,” Lynn police spokesperson Lt. Dave Brown said. “Often when a crime occurs, people will call others before notifying police. This causes unnecessary delays and allows the thief time to get away.”UPS officials thanked police. They said concern has been growing about recent thefts against drivers, especially after an incident in Lawrence where a driver was held up at gunpoint.Lopes and Riley are due back in Lynn District Court April 9 for a pre-trial hearing.