SWAMPSCOTT — A woman was arrested Monday afternoon after allegedly breaking into a home in town, with an off-duty police sergeant stopping her as she exited the residence before responding officers took her into custody, according to police.
The incident occurred around 4:04 p.m. on April 13, when off-duty Sgt. Kevin Reen was contacted by a neighbor who was not home but had received notifications and video images from a home security system showing an unauthorized person inside their house.
Kevin Reen responded to the home and checked the perimeter, where he encountered the woman as she walked out of the front door. He detained her at the scene until additional officers arrived.
Officers Todd Nottingham, John Cassidy, Michael Kenyon, and Kevin Kaufman responded within minutes after a 911 call was made through Swampscott dispatch, which further alerted police to the urgency of the situation. Nottingham and Kaufman took the woman into custody while Cassidy and Kenyon conducted a protective sweep of the house to ensure no one else was inside.
The woman, identified as Corrie Zahr, is homeless and had no known connection to the resident, Sgt. Brendan Reen — Kevin’s brother — said in an interview. He described the incident as appearing random and said police do not believe there is any pattern of similar break-ins in the area.
“This appears to be an isolated incident at this time,” Brendan Reen said. “We don’t have any pattern or anything to suggest any other house breaking and entering.”
According to police, nothing was taken from the home and no property was seen to be damaged upon a protective sweep of the home. As a result of the officers’ investigation, Zahr was placed under arrest for breaking and entering for a misdemeanor and disorderly conduct.
Brendan Reen said it is uncommon for an off-duty officer to intervene in a situation like this, though not entirely unconventional.
“It is a rarity,” he said. “Typically, however, it is something that an off-duty officer comes to expect might happen. Many times, neighbors might reach out to an officer, like in this case.”
In this case, he said the neighbor knew Kevin Reen personally and reached out when they noticed the suspicious activity through their home security system. The sergeant, who was thankfully home with his family at the time, advised the neighbor to call 911 and then responded himself.
The incident also underscored the role that home security systems and alert neighbors can play in preventing crimes or limiting their impact, Brendan Reen said.
“In this particular case, having your doors locked and any alarm system that you might have, or even a Ring device activated when you are not home, that in and of itself is one extra layer of protection,” he said.
He encouraged residents to report suspicious activity, even if they are unsure whether a crime is taking place.
“If you see something, say something,” Brendan Reen said. “Allow us as police officers to respond. We know how to respond to these locations and check a residence to make sure that it is secure.”
Police said residents can call 911 or the department’s business line to report concerns, emphasizing that any call is better than none when something appears out of the ordinary.
