Alertness of Sgt Floan Led To Arrests In Car Theft Ring-This Day In Norwood History-August 29, 1947

Dedham Man Pleads Guilty To Defacing Automobile Numbers

As police continued their investigation of the gang allegedly stealing cars in this area, the fifth man placed under arrest was arraigned in the ‘Dedham District Court Tuesday before Judge Gilbert W. Cox. Nicholas A Guardobascio, 27, of 72 Chester Avenue, Dedham, pleaded guilty to a charge of removing and defacing motor vehicle numbers. He was held in bond for $5000 for grand jury action in September:

The complaining officer was Sergeant Nelson LaFreniere of the Dedham police.

Chief Lydon this week lauded the detective work of Sergeant Mark Folan who, while swimming at Lake Pearl, Wrentham, discovered several men acting suspiciously around several cars parked there. He reported his findings to Police Chief Charles Bishop of Wrentham and this led to the arrest of five men, one of whom is charged with stealing a car in Norwood on January 12, 1947. The car is owned by Paul Purchard of 1330 River Street. Hyde Park and was parked in the rear of the Norwood Theatre. Police claim the car was taken to Florida and sold there for $1500.

The auto theft ring is believed to have taken several cars to Florida and other places where they were sold at premium prices. The new cars bore the motor numbers of old cars which the gang had purchased from junk shops and which had been transferred to the new cars. It was to this phase of the operations by the gang to which Guardobascio confessed, according to the Dedham Police.

Associated with Chief Lydon and Sgt. Folan in making the arrest« were Sgt, Nelson LaFreniere of Dedham, Police Chief Charles 46 Westland Avenue, Boston and Guardobascio.

Panske, McGrath and Melito

Bishop of Wrentham and State Troopers Cash man and McAnnenny of Wrentham.

Taken into custody Monday were Joseph Pucillo. 27 of 823 Hyde Park Avenue. Hyde Park Edward F Melito. 34, of 400 Chestnut Avenue, Dedham. Albert € McGrath. 25. of 6 Wolcott Court Readville. Paul T Panske, 32., were ordered held in bonds of $2500 when they appeared in District Court at Walpole before Judge Frank B. Coughlin, yesterday morning They were charged with breaking and entering and larceny from automobiles and pleaded not guilty. Their cases were ordered continued to Wednesday. September 3.

Pucillo was arraigned before Judge Gilbert Cox in the Dedham District Court, yesterday morning charged with theft of the automobile in Norwood. He pleaded not guilty and his case was continued to Tuesday, September 2.

Since the stolen cars were transported out of state, there is a possibility that the FBI may also bring charges against the alleged auto thieves.