16-year-old boy arrested after early morning break-in at Saugus mall

SAUGUS, Mass. — A 16-year-old has been arrested after police received word of an “armed and dangerous intruder” inside the Dick’s Sporting Goods at Saugus Mall following a break-in Monday morning.

According to Saugus Police Chief Dominic DiMella, the burglar alarm sounded around 4:20 a.m. at the sporting goods store. Saugus police were notified and headed to the mall.

Chief DiMella said officers saw the suspect with a 'long gun,' but lost sight of him.

Numerous state and local police officers, including SWAT teams and a Massachusetts State Police helicopter responded to the scene and immediately set up a perimeter around the facility to prevent anyone from entering or exiting the property during the investigation.

Police later said the 16-year-old suspect from Everett escaped the store, but was identified and later arrested around 11:30 a.m. The long gune allegedly stole was also recovered at his home.

"I'm just hoping no one gets hurt and this all calms down," mall worker Chandler Laguerre said earlier Monday morning.

Police had urged the public to stay away from the area while the investigation continued, and mall officials said the facility would remain closed until further notice.

One of the Boston 25 News crews at the scene reported seeing several ambulances staged in a parking lot, just in case they were needed. However, no one was injured.

Saugus superintendent of schools, Dr. David DeRuos, spoke with Boston 25 News and said that schedules were running as normal and he was in constant communication with police. Schools were briefly sheltered as a precaution.

The suspect has been charged breaking and entering during the nighttime to commit a felony. malicious destruction of property over $250 and larceny of a firearm.

Cox Media Group