Boscawen Man Allegedly Steals Food from Refugees

A Boscawen man is facing charges after allegedly stealing produce from the community gardens near NHTI.

Francisco D Sorrentino III, 29, was arrested on two counts of theft by unauthorized taking by the New Hampshire State Police on Sept. 28, according to a press statement.

Troopers from Troop D in Concord were contacted by the project manager for the Sycamore Community Garden Project about allegations that a man had stolen produce from the gardens on two different occasions.

“Witnesses to the thefts reported that the suspect filled several of their (five) gallon buckets with a variety of produce, placed them in his truck, and left,” said Sgt. William Graham in a statement. “The witnesses provided information that led troopers to a suspect in Boscawen.”

Sorrentino was arrested and later released on $3,000 personal recognizance bail. He’s due to be arraigned in court on Nov. 18.

Graham noted that the project, located near the soccer fields at NHTI off Fort Eddy Road, has been providing land for low-income families to grow food since 2009. There at 138 plots serving 131 families, most of whom are from the city’s refugee community.