Pair Caught Allegedly Stealing Clothes From St. Vincent Donation Box

Two men allegedly stealing donated clothing from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul box found themselves wearing handcuffs Wednesday night.

Westborough Police Detective Steven Tompkins arrested Amaro B. Varela, 36, of 18 Farrington St., Brockton, and Eliseu Afonso, 32, of 91 Harvard St., Brockton, and charged both men with larceny over $250, Police Chief Alan Gordon said today in a press release.

Afonso allegedly stood inside the donation bin at 53 East Main St., and, through the openings, handed donated clothing to Varela, who allegedly loaded trash bags full of the items into a mini-van parked beside the box, Gordon said.

Tompkins saw the mini-van there, "fully loaded" with the filled trash bags, and Varela standing outside the vehicle, around 7:50 p.m. Wednesday, Gordon said.

Police found the men doing the same thing there on Sept. 25, Gordon said. Varela was spotted there on Oct. 30, 2011 as well, he said.

Varela and Afonso were held on $500 bail, and face arraignment today in Westborough District Court.