Police nab suspected shopping cart thief

LYNN – Police hope they made a dent in Stop & Shop’s carriage theft problem by arresting a man accused of stealing at least 50 shopping carts.Edgar Ananias Gomez, 26, of 10 Valley Ave., Lynn, was arrested Wednesday and charged with larceny and violating the city’s ordinance of stealing shopping carts.A Stop & Shop official later told police the Washington Street supermarket had $50,000 worth of shopping carts stolen over the past two years. Each carriage is worth about $110.Police say Gomez stole at least 50 carts this month and sold them for scrap metal in Chelsea at five cents per pound.”This is a potent reminder to area businesses to remain vigilant in safe guarding their carriages,” Lynn police spokesman Lt. William Sharpe said. “(Use) available technology including wheel locks that prevent the carriage from being removed from their property.”An employee of Stop & Shop – whose primary job is to drive around the city and collect stolen carriages – called police around 9:45 a.m. when he drove past Gomez’ house and observed eight shopping carriages in the bed of a pickup truck, police said.The carriages were newer carts with the Stop & Shop logo clearly displayed on each one, according to police. The employee blocked the truck with his to prevent Gomez from leaving when Gomez allegedly got into the truck and turned the key.The two men exited their trucks to discuss the situation when Gomez allegedly said he finds the carts on the street at night and junks them.Gomez’ girlfriend allegedly told police he’s been stealing the carriages for about one month, usually around 9 or 10 p.m.