Cops: Salem man borrows from neighbors to steal

SALEM, Mass. (WHDH) -- Police say a Salem man borrowed things from two neighbors to rob a third.

Salem police say their suspect was stealing right in plain sight -- getting unwitting neighbors to help him carry out a heist in his own apartment building.

“[He was telling people] just that he needed to help the people in that apartment,” said Sgt. John Doyle, Salem Police Department.

Christopher Gray -- who is known to police -- was ordered held on $10,000 bail after police say he stole a laptop, a television and computer from a third-floor apartment Thursday night.

According to police reports, he pulled it off after he managed to borrow a ladder and butter knife from two other neighbors.

“He didn't explain nothing about the ladder,” said Samantha Bradford, who lent the suspect a ladder.

Before the suspect climbed up the ladder to a third story window, neighbors say he told them he was trying to let a locked out tenant back in.

“His explanation was that it was just to help them. Then the people came home to that apartment find a TV missing, a play station missing and a laptop missing,” said Sgt. Doyle.

This isn't the first time a promise to help has put Gray behind bars. Christopher Gray was recently released from jail; police arrested him last year for falsely claiming he was collecting donations for a cancer walk.

Gray’s girlfriend told 7News he did nothing wrong and that he only climbed up to the apartment’s window after the tenant directly asked him to.