Police: Winthrop Man Claiming To Be Massport Worker Found Breaking Into Home
WINTHROP (CBS) -- A Winthrop man is accused of breaking into homes in a neighborhood pretending to be a Massport employee.
Police responded to calls Friday of a man entering homes at an apartment complex on Golden Drive and found James Matthew Reppucci, 35, of Winthrop -- who was not a resident -- inside one of the homes.
Reppucci allegedly told police he worked for Massport and was there checking windows inside the apartments. Officers called Winthrop Housing Authority to confirm and were told no one from Massport had been authorized to check windows or do repairs.
"This particular gentleman used a hoax to gain entry to the senior apartments," says Winthrop Police Chief Terence Delehanty.
He told residents like Corrine and Donald the same Massport story.
"A guy just walked in on me. I was doing something and I turned and he said he was from Massport," says Donald.
"I asked where is his name tag, and he said it was in his truck and he would go down and get it and come back. And he did not," adds Corrine.
The thing is, the story about the windows rings true in Winthrop because the town is right on the Logan flight path.
"We have airplanes flying over us every single moment of the day," says Chief Delehanty.
As part of a noise abatement program, Massport actually does help residents reduce the jet noise they have to endure.
Police say they found a knife and methamphetamine on Reppucci.
He was after a brief struggle. Surveillance video caught Reppucci grab a bottle of glass cleaner at the police station and trying to spray officers in the eyes. Two officers were hurt subduing him.
Reppuci faces multiple charges including Breaking and Entering, Larceny, and Assault and Battery.
Residents say they are shook up by the incident.
"Now I put something in front of my doors at night and I don't let anybody in," Corrine says.
"If there's no pre-planned appointment, don't let them in. Call the police and have us confirm their identity and who they belong to and if they're legitimately there," warns Chief Delehanty.
