BOSTON — Multiple law enforcement agencies have worked together to arrest a gang of men they say targeted restaurants across Massachusetts in sophisticated "smash and grab" burglaries.
Police are calling this a major bust after the four alleged thieves began busting into fast food restaurants and one bakery and stealing entire safes full of cash.
In surprise raids in two homes in Dorchester and one in Weymouth on Tuesday, investigators arrested Jason Geddes, Dharol Joyner, Daniel Vo and Edward Nugent.
Inside the homes police also found money, a crowbar and a sledgehammer - tools the say the men had used to break into restaurants like the Wendy's in Quincy.
"They were going into these commercial restaurants and getting in and out there in 3 minutes, so this was sophisticated," said Boston Police Commissioner William Evans. "They took hundreds of thousands of dollars, along with the property damage."
However, investigators say they were surprised to find even more stolen goods.
Law enforcement officials say dozens of Christmas gifts from Amazon are now on their way back to their rightful owners. Boston Police say these packages were stolen by Joyner when he worked as a subcontractor for Amazon.
According to police, Joyner was stockpiling the stolen Amazon gifts from his side job at the two Dorchester locations raided by police.
"Thank God we stopped the ring of burglaries, but also get these presents back," said Commissioner Evans.
Authorities say their investigation started months ago when the gang first began hitting fast food restaurants and stealing safes full of cash.
Investigators say sharing information with agencies across the region eventually led them into making the arrests on Tuesday morning.
Geddes, Joyner and Nugent were all arraigned on Tuesday on multiple criminal charges. Daniel Vo will face a judge at a later date.