Two men facing various charges in separate retail theft sprees

BOSTON, May 19, 2024 – Two men, one with an 11-page arrest record and one with multiple open shoplifting cases, were arraigned this month in relation to reoccurring retail theft incidents, District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.

“We recognize the frustrations and safety concerns store-based crime can bring to shoppers, store owners and employees, and we are committed to addressing them appropriately. These thefts affect more than just store owners. The true impact is felt by the entire community through store closures, item restrictions and reduced access to daily essentials and medications,” Hayden said.

JAMES NICKOLA, 39, of Boston, was charged on May 7 with larceny from a building and breaking and entering at night with intent to commit a felony in BMC Central. Judge James Stanton ordered Nickola held on $1,000 bail and to stay away from the location of the offense. Nickola is due back in court June 10 for a pre-trial hearing.

At about 9:30 a.m. on February 10, Boston police responded to a breaking and entering report at the Express Convenience store at 31 Winter Street. The store owner reported that a man, later identified as Nickola, had broken the exterior gate and front door to gain entry and was in the store from 3:08 a.m. until 3:56 a.m. Nickola had taken $4,375 worth of cigarettes, $360 worth of lighters, $225 worth of E-Z Wider rolling paper, 22 pairs of headphones worth $470, 20 phone chargers worth $240, seven power packs worth $245, $600 in gold dollars, $300 in loose change, $300 of miscellaneous items, and a backpack used to store the items. The stolen merchandise totaled $7,115 and the property damage totaled $7,100.

The store owner provided police with surveillance video which shows Nickola laying on the ground attempting to open the security gate. The owner told investigators Nickola has broken into the store two other times and had even apologized for doing so. The store owner said he would often see Nickola in the Downtown Crossing area.

Investigators distributed still images of Nikola through department email to assist in identification. Multiple officers identified the individual to be Nickola based on previous interactions.

Nickola has an 11-page board of probation record dating back to 2000. Nickola has several convictions for larceny and assault and battery. The most recent conviction was out of BMC Central in January for breaking and entering at night with intent to commit a felony.

CHRISTOPHER ALVES, 35, of Boston, was arraigned Thursday from a hospital bed on two new charges out of West Roxbury BMC stemming from a May 15 incident for shoplifting by asportation (second offense) and trespassing. Judge Kathleen Coffey revoked Alves’ bail on three open shoplifting cases, also out of West Roxbury. Alves is due back in court May 31 for a pre-trial hearing on all four cases.

At about 6:12 p.m. on February 14, Boston police responded to CVS Pharmacy at 467 Centre Street. The store manager told police he had video footage of an unknown male, later identified as Alves, entering the store and stealing painkillers with an estimated value of $100. Alves was charged with one count of shoplifting by concealing merchandise (second offense).

At about 12:10 p.m. on February 19, Boston police responded to Whole Foods at 413 Centre Street and met with staff who said an unknown male, later identified as Alves, entered the store with a reusable CVS bag and filled it with multiple bags of shrimp and other meats, worth a total of $700, and fled toward Paul Gore Street toward the Stony Brook train station area. Staff informed officers that Alves had been entering the store daily and placing multiple bags of shrimp and meats into a bag before walking out. Alves was charged with one count of shoplifting by concealing merchandise (second offense).

At about 8:37 p.m. on April 16, Boston police responded to Target at 4165 Washington Street for a shoplifting call. Officers were informed that the suspect was wearing all black and stole some backpacks and fled on foot. Officers observed a man matching the description walking onto a MBTA bus. Officers stopped the bus and observed a man, later identified as Alves, sitting in the back. Alves handed officers three black laptop bags and one brown backpack and said “I just took some bags, I’ll give it back.” While officers were escorting Alves off the bus, he said “can you give me a break, it’s just shoplifting.”

The stolen items, worth $120, were returned to Target loss prevention. Alves was charged with one count of shoplifting by asportation (second offense).

Officers noted that Alves was involved in five previously documented shoplifting incidents from Target beginning March 18.

In the most recent case, Boston police at about 4:55 p.m. on May 15 received a call for a larceny in progress at Whole Foods at 413 Centre Street. Store personnel said the suspect, later identified as Alves, was carrying two backpacks and fled toward Paul Gore Street. Officers located Alves, who told them he did not take anything from Whole Foods and it was all a “mistake.” Officers observed Alves with two backpacks containing four bags of shrimp with the Whole Foods logo on them.

Hayden’s office has held several meetings with regional retailer groups and small business owners to discuss safety concerns and to help store managers strategize responses to shoplifting and retail larcenies. The meetings have come amid increasing national and local frustrations around retail crime, along with concerns over the closure of several pharmacies serving minority communities in Boston.

All charged individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, Mass. The office handles over 20,000 cases a year. More than 160 attorneys in the office practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Supreme Judicial Court, and the Boston Juvenile Courts. The office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs to serve anyone who comes in contact with the criminal justice system. This office is committed to educating the public about the services we provide, our commitment to crime prevention, and our dedication to keeping the residents of Suffolk County safe.

 James Borghesani, Chief of Communications