By Jim Clark

Police officers were dispatched to Columbia Sports at Assembly Row last Friday afternoon on reports of a shoplifter.

Upon arrival, the officers were informed by an onlooker that a male had chased the shoplifter past the train platform.

Partners Security told police that they saw the man running towards Broadway on Grand Union Blvd. The description given was a white male with sweatpants and a tan jacket.

A man matching that description was located at the intersection of Lombardi Way and Broadway, at which time the suspect fled into a nearby residential yard.

Police began searching the area and a man matching the description was spotted by an officer as he exited a yard. When the suspect saw the officer he reportedly ran in the other direction.

Officers chased through several yards until the suspect was intercepted and taken into custody. Officers immediately recognized him as John Elwell, of Malden, an alleged frequent shoplifter in the Assembly Row area.

According to reports, Elwell admitted that he was wearing a jacket stolen from Columbia Sports, which he reportedly said without police asking him any questions. The anti-theft device was still located on the jacket.

Columbia Sports told police that a total of seven jackets valued at $200 each were stolen.

Police reviewed video surveillance which reportedly showed Elwell enter the store at 1:13 p.m., select the jackets, make no attempt to pay for the items, and exit the store at 1:24 p.m.

An unidentified customer chased Elwell and recovered six of the jackets before returning them to the store. The police officers were unable to get this good Samaritan’s name.

Elwell was placed under arrest on a charge of larceny over $1,200.