Swampscott burglary suspect arrested

SWAMPSCOTT – Area residents can nestle all snug in their beds feeling a little safer this holiday season.Swampscott police arrested a Marblehead man believed to be responsible for several recent robberies that were committed while residents were home sleeping.Detective Sgt. Tim Cassidy said Michael Cotgageorge, 43, 8 Lorraine Terrace, Marblehead was arrested and charged on Thursday following the execution of search warrants obtained by Swampscott and Marblehead police.Cotgageorge was charged with forgery, uttering, misuse of a credit card and larceny under $250. Cassidy said Cotgageorge would be facing additional charges out of Swampscott and Marblehead.Someone robbed a Nason Road home on Dec. 17 while its occupants were home asleep. Numerous items were stolen from the Nason Road home, including a laptop, Xbox, cell phone, purse and wallet. A stolen credit card from the burglary was used at 3 a.m. on Dec. 17 at a business in Lynn. Detective James Schultz is heading up the investigation. Cassidy said police recovered forensic evidence at the scene and sent it to the state crime lab for testing.Cassidy said Schultz worked with other area police departments to identify the male suspect, who was seen on surveillance video at several local stores attempting to purchase items with credit cards stolen during the Dec. 17 housebreak.”Detective Schultz showed Marblehead Detective Sergeant Sean Sweeney a photo of the suspect using the credit cards,” Cassidy said. “Sergeant Sweeney identified the male party who was known to him as being Michael Cotgageorge. Detective Schultz applied for an arrest warrant and search warrant for Cotgageorge’s residence.”Marblehead and Swampscott detectives along with Marblehead Officer Mike Everett executed the search warrant Thursday afternoon.”Police recovered several items the Nason Road housebreak in Swampscott,” Cassidy said. “Police also located possible evidence from an early morning house break in Marblehead back in August.””He (Cotgageorge) will also be charged with several counts of receiving stolen property and additional charges from the Nason Road break in,” Cassidy said. “Marblehead detectives will also have additional charges.”Lynn District Court Clerk Andrew Pedallaro ordered Cotgageorge held on $25,000 cash bail.Cassidy said he believes it’s possible Cotgageorge is connected to one or more other recent cases. In November a home on Roy Street was entered through an unlocked rear door while the occupants were sleeping. The thieves made off with a purse and a wallet.According to Marblehead Police Chief Robert Picariello, on Nov. 2 at approximately 1:30 a.m. an intruder entered a home on Londonderry Road through an unlocked side door on the attached garage.Anyone with any information on these crimes is asked to call Swampscott Police at 781-595-1111. Anonymous tips can be sent by text message to “CRIMES” or 274637 and enter the keyword “SPD” before the actual text message.