Four Teens Tried to Twice Burglarize House for Drugs

Four local teenagers have been charged with a variety of burglary offenses after they attempted to break into a North Hampton home they had burglarized once before to steal some "weed," according to North Hampton Deputy Chief Mike Maddocks.

Maddocks said the teens were apprehended over the course of the last week after a lengthy investigation that began on Dec. 20 when the teens attempted to burglarize 14 Slate Run Road for the second time a little over a week.

Maddocks said two teens — Jordan Welch, 17, of Hampton, and Scott Andrews, 18, of Hampton — were arraigned Monday in Portsmouth District Court on counts of burglary, attempted burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary.

Hampton resident Gordon Serpis, 18, and Alfonso Medina, 19, who recently moved to Lawrence, Mass., from Hampton, face similar charges, said Maddocks.

Maddocks said the four individuals stole an Xbox 360, several Xbox games and a Dell laptop — but no drugs — from 14 Slate Run Road during a break-in at about 5 p.m. on Dec. 11.

Those items were later pawned or sold to the Hawk Shop in Portsmouth and GameStop in Newington, he said.

Police weren't aware of the Dec. 11 theft until Dec. 20, when a neighbor "spotted two individuals" — allegedly Welch and Andrews — attempting to break into the home around 7:30 p.m., according to Maddocks.

The neighbor "chased" the individuals on foot until they entered a waiting car parked near , said Maddocks. The neighbor reported the attempted crime to police, and through that information Maddocks said police were able to identify Serpis as the owner of the vehicle used during the incident.

Maddocks didn't release many details about the ensuing investigation. He say, though, that police learned through various interviews with the suspects that they wanted to return to the home on Dec. 20 because they noticed something of interest during the Dec. 11 break-in.

It was unclear Wednesday and Thursday when Serpis and Medina will be arraigned on their charges.

Maddocks said Welch's arrest is the third in the past couple of weeks.

He said Welch was charged with resisting detention and possession of a controlled drug on Feb. 26 during a at a home owned by North Hampton Budget Committee member David Peck.

Maddocks said Welch was also charged with disorderly conduct, criminal mischief and resisting arrest by New Hampshire State Police in connection to the same house party.