Career Burglar Nabbed in Barrington Shows Up Along North Shore

A career criminal who was arrested in Barrington last December with burglary tools in his car has been charged with two jewelry store break-ins in North Beverly, Mass., according to the Beverly Patch.

James J. Radler, 51, who had a 14-page arrest record when Barrington police nabbed him about 3:30 am last Dec. 7, is being described by Beverly police as a “one man crime spree.”

He is being eyed in connection with as many as 15 other jewelry store break-ins in towns along the north shore of Boston and the New Hampshire seacoast.

The charges in north Beverly are described as “smash and grab” break-ins. Barrington Police Chief John LaCross said last year that: “There is no doubt these officers prevented a smash and grab" in Barrington.

He apparently was “casing” a jewelry store in Barrington earlier in the day. The store owner said he seemed suspicious and identified a photo after he was nabbed in Barrington.

Radler was arrested this time at Knights Inn in Danvers, which he lists as his home address. He told Barrington police his home address was in East Boston, although he was staying at a Ramada Inn in Middletown the night he was stopped near the RIPTA park and ride by Patrol Officer Walter Larson for not having a working light over his license plate. 

Radler was discovered then wearing black sweat pants over jeans and a Navy blue sweatshirt over a shirt during a pat down, LaCross said. He was carrying an expired Vermont driver’s license and an Idaho identification card. He seemed nervous and jittery. 

The officers also soon noticed in the backseat of his car a battering ram and other typical burglary tools -- a mallet, pliers, ski mask and gloves.

A check with the national crime database revealed that Radler had an outstanding warrant in Washington state from 2007 for forgery. He also was released from an Idaho prison in the spring of 2012.

Radler’s arrest record shows a history of convictions for robbery, forgery, larceny, bank fraud, stealing a car, and being a fugitive from justice that dates back many years. He also has used a variety of aliases over the years.

“He has a huge criminal record,” said LaCross.

Radler appeared in District Court in Rhode Island to face the Barrington charges. He was released on bail after spending a few days in the ACI.

And after being stopped before he could break into a jewelry store in Barrington, he apparently moved to the north shore to start his alleged robbery spree there.