[Soundbounder]

Police say they know who stole more than $40,000 in oysters and equipment from beds in East Dennis and Barnstable last summer, but they're not quite ready to publicly name the culprit.

Barnstable police Lt. Sean Balcom, who heads the Barnstable Street Crime Unit, called the anticipated end of the five-month investigation by multiple public safety agencies "the result of police work and the rewards" that were offered.

The street crime unit was tipped to the identity of the poacher by one of its informants, Balcom said.

Rewards totaling $2,000 are being offered to the tipster if the guilty party is caught.

"We've definitely identified somebody," Balcom said Monday. "We caught him red-handed and anticipate charging him in the next couple weeks.

"Where he sold the oysters is going to come as a pretty big surprise."

Christine Legere
Cape Cod Times
http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pb...NEWS/401280332