New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
Fairhaven Police took a report of a commercial break that occurred this past Friday night at the Tumble Time Laundromat located at 7 Howland Road. Officer Christopher Bettencourt took the report Saturday morning when an employee reported the break that occurred the previous night. Officer Bettencourt reviewed the company’s video surveillance system and observed a male party, later identified as 26 year old Joshua Audette, enter the locked office of the business. After being in the office for approximately ten minutes, Audette is seen exiting the office and then leaving the store.
Officer Bettencourt learned through his investigation that an employee is on the premises until 8 pm. However, the laundromat remains open to the public until 11pm, at which time the doors automatically lock and the lights automatically turn off. Based on the video surveillance, it was determined that Audette entered the locked office when the business was unattended. He then stole an undisclosed amount of money and fled from the store.
The following day an employee reported to Fairhaven Police that a male matching the description in the surveillance video came into the business, and began asking questions about their hours of operation. Later that night Sergeant Daniel Dorgan, along with Officers Pamela Bourgault, Andrew Quintin and Matthew Sobral established a surveillance of the business. Just before 11 pm they observed Audette slip into the business prior to the doors automatically locking.
Officers observed Audette enter the office inside the establishment, then took him into custody as he left the store. He was charged with breaking and entering in the nighttime to commit a felony, breaking and entering into a depository, trespassing, possession of a burglarious instrument, larceny and assault by means of a dangerous weapon. The charge of possession of a burglarious instrument was filed when it was determined Audette used an object to manipulate the door lock and locked cash drawer to gain access. The assault charge was filed after Audette threw a phone at officers in the police station during the booking process. Audette, who is currently homeless, was held without bail and will be arraigned Tuesday morning at Third District Court.
