On September 29th, 2015 the Burlington Police took a report of two commercial burglaries which had occurred overnight at the Red Square night club and Red Onion Deli. As part of the investigation, surveillance video was obtained of the suspect in the commission of the crime. This investigation was ongoing by the Detective Bureau and evidence beyond the video footage exists implicating Lance Mason, 44 YOA of Burlington, in the commission of these burglaries. Mason was listed on escape with the Vermont Department of Corrections in late August after he removed his GPS bracelet.
On October 10th, 2015 shortly before 11:00 PM Burlington Police Officer Joe Corrow responded to a St. Paul St. restaurant for a reported larceny. Ofc. Corrow met with the victims who had their purse and backpack stolen from the coat hooks located inside the restaurant. Staff provided video surveillance footage showing a male suspect removing the stolen items. Ofc. Corrow conducted a foot patrol of the area and was able to locate the suspect male in the area of Church and Main St. The male provided a false name multiple times before he was formally identified as Lance Mason. Mason was found in possession of a cellular telephone which was among the effects stolen from the St. Paul St. restaurant. Mason was taken into custody without incident pursuant to an Arrest Warrant for Escape.
Mason was lodged at with the Vermont Department of Corrections for lack of $10,000 bail on the charges of Escape, Burglary of the Red Square night club and Red Onion Deli, as well as the Grand Larceny stemming from this evenings incident. Mason has a criminal history in the State of Vermont which includes 17 misdemeanor convictions, 19 felony convictions, 4 violations of court orders/condition convictions, 1 assault on officer charge, 5 escape charges, 6 violations of probation/parole charges, and 4 previous failures to appear in court.
Mason will be arraigned in Chittenden Superior Court – Criminal Division on Tuesday October 13th, 2015. Burlington Police Detectives are continuing their investigation into Mason, marshaling evidence from other unsolved burglaries and larcenies which have occurred in the downtown district during the past 45 days. Anyone with information related to the recent activities of Mason are asked to call Det. Gilligan at (802) 540-2247.
