Police: Witnesses Detain Home Invaders in Worcester, Massachusetts

Civilians in Worcester, Massachusetts, detained two suspects in a home invasion Sunday, according to police.

Authorities say 19-year-old Joseph Pineau of Wilmington and 20-year-old Joseph Todisco of South Grafton broke into a third-floor apartment on Brightwood Avenue. Police responded around 7:15 p.m. and were told that witnesses on the scene had stopped the intruders and recovered what was thought to be a gun.

A 16-year-old boy told police he was home alone on the first floor when he heard a loud bang; a 25-year-old man who lives on the third floor came downstairs and told him the door had been kicked in. The teen said he saw the suspects run off with their faces covered.

About 30 minutes later, police say, the teen saw Todisco and Pineau come back and enter the building. When the boy's mother and two men arrived at the scene, the suspects tried to flee again.

Two men who were on the scene chased the suspects and detained them. One of them grabbed what was thought to be a weapon but turned out to be a BB gun.

Police say Todisco was carrying two bags of marijuana. They say they found a "sophisticated marijuana grow operation" on the third floor; that apartment's 25-year-old resident was arrested and charged with manufacturing a class D substance. His identity was not released.

Todisco and Pineau is charged with armed home invasion and malicious destruction of property. Todisco is additionally charged with carrying a dangerous weapon.

It was not immediately clear if the suspects had attorneys.

Contact Us