Chrissy Curran was surprised, but not overly shocked, when someone broke into her unlocked Whitehall Terrace home in June.

It was probably some mischievous kids, she thought. Only an iPod and a plastic container of loose change were stolen.

“It was small and it seemed random,” Curran said.

But then it happened again. And again. And again. Curran’s house has been burglarized four times since June, including Oct. 19, when thieves stole a 50-inch flat-screen television.

“I’m not seeing an end in sight,” she said.

Across the street from Curran, the home of Nicole McIntyre was also burglarized twice since July. Another Whitehall Terrace resident, Diane Berube, returned home about 11:30 a.m. on Aug. 4 to see an intruder running out her back door. Police called in a K-9 unit to track the burglar’s scent, but he was never caught.

At the same time police investigated Curran’s most recent burglary on Oct. 19, they dusted for fingerprints across town at 70 Corriveau Drive, the home of Dan and Ginnie Toland, which was found broken into the previous night.

Among the items stolen: a 50-inch flat-screen TV and jewelry. Police said not much else was taken, but the house was heavily ransacked.

The Tolands did not respond to requests for an interview, but Ginnie Toland spoke at a Police Commission meeting on Oct. 20, calling for an increased police presence in her neighborhood. Her house was the second one burglarized on Corriveau Drive since July.

“It’s disturbing,” Toland said. “What’s more disturbing is to hear it happened again.”

Police commissioners talked about forming a neighborhood watch type of program last month. Now, there’s a push for action more than ever.

“This issue is now,” said David Gagnon, chairman of the Hooksett Police Commission. “It’s not coming. It’s now.”

Toland and her husband had left town for the weekend, but neighbors told her a white van was in her driveway.

“There were people out in broad daylight casing our house,” she said. “They came right through our front door. It’s really disturbing.”

Jim and Lucille Shea know what their neighbors are going through. When their house was broken into the morning of July 20, it was ransacked and their 50-inch television was also stolen, along with jewelry and Jim’s shotgun.

“We had just purchased a new flat-screen television and the first thing I noticed when I walked in was that there was no television set,” Lucille Shea said. “They had trashed the entire upstairs.”

During the Police Commission meeting, it was announced that police officers will host a public forum at the Hooksett Public Library on Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. to give residents tips on how to prevent burglaries.

Also during the commission meeting, Police Capt. Paul Cecilio said he’s in talks with Manchester police about expanding the Manchester Crime Line to include Hooksett, Goffstown and Bedford. The Crime Line is a 24-hour phone center where people can anonymously report information about crimes and sometimes receive cash rewards.

Police officials say a neighborhood watch is unlikely for Hooksett. Nationally, watch programs are designed for urban areas, where police hold meetings with residents and train them to walk the streets looking for suspicious activity and calling it in.

The Hooksett Police Department says it’s already understaffed and cannot afford to send a police car to exclusively patrol the neighborhood around Corriveau Drive, which is seeing increased activity due to retail development near Interstate 93’s Exit 10.

McIntyre hopes people will be more aware of suspicious activity. All the burglaries on Whitehall Terrace have occurred in the middle of the day while the victims are at work.

“The funny thing is that half the neighbors are home all the time,” she said.

The latest incident happened Monday, Nov. 3, sometime between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., at a home on Laurel Drive.

Police said someone broke through the kitchen window, ransacked the house and stole jewelry.

The location is two streets away from Whitehall Terrace, where several homes have been burglarized over the past six months.

The labor union representing fired Hooksett police officer Jason Defina has filed an unfair labor practice complaint with the state Public Employee Labor Relations Board.

The complaint, filed Oct. 16, accuses Hooksett Police Chief Stephen Agrafiotis and the Hooksett Police Commission of terminating Defina without just cause and without allowing Defina a proper hearing to discuss his alleged actions that led to his termination.

The complaint also accuses the Police Commission of violating the law by appointing a replacement board of former commission members to oversee a grievance that Defina filed in late September.

Thomas Noonan, an official from Teamsters Union Local 633, which filed the complaint, said the Hooksett Town Council would have been the proper board to decide who the replacement commission should be.

“We think the complaint is without merit and will vigorously defend against it,” said James Higgins, the commission’s attorney.

Defina’s attorney, William Cahill, said Defina was fired because Commission Chairman David Gagnon said Defina had not cooperated and properly participated in the field training program, which he was ordered to undergo after a suspension.

“We strongly disagree with Commissioner Gagnon’s assertion that there was a lack of cooperation on officer Defina’s part in the field training program,” Cahill said.

A convicted sex offender arrested in September for animal cruelty was arrested again Oct. 5 on multiple counts of child sexual assault, authorities said.

Eric Bousquet, 39, who has been residing recently at his parent’s home at 13 Bishop Lane, Epsom, was arraigned Oct. 6 in Hooksett District Court for felonious sexual assault, two counts of indecent exposure, two counts of sexual assault and two counts of simple assault.

Judge Robert LaPointe ordered Bousquet held on $12,500 cash bail – the amount a prosecutor requested.

According to police, there are four victims – three girls and one boy. They were between 11 and 17 when the assaults allegedly occurred at Bousquet’s former home at 102 Howard Ave., Hooksett, between May 1 and Aug. 18.

Three of the victims are siblings and their mother brought them to the Hooksett police station on Aug. 18 after her children spoke of the alleged abuse. The mother said she questioned her children, who had slept over at Bousquet’s home numerous times, after finding out he was convicted in 1993 of felonious sexual assault against a 13-year-old girl.

Once the allegations were reported, Hooksett police attempted to contact Bousquet, who was required as a sex offender to register his address to police. But when detectives arrived at his Howard Avenue home, they found a dead cat, a dog on the brink of death that was later euthanized and a house covered with maggots and animal ***.

Bousquet was apprehended several hours later and charged with failing to register as a sex offender. Police said he was staying with family in Epsom and North Conway and had failed to notify them.

About two weeks later, police formally filed two counts of animal cruelty against Bousquet.

Police said he abandoned the animals because he owed seven weeks of back rent.

According to court papers, veterinarian Leigh Williamson of the Manchester Animal Hospital told police, “that this was the worst case of animal cruelty she had ever worked on.”

Authorities say three of the children in the latest case became assault victims after their mother began a friendship with Bousquet and she often allowed them to sleep at his home. The fourth victim, the 11-year-old girl, was friends with one of the three children, authorities said.

Among the allegations stated in court papers, the 14-year-old said she was asleep on Bousquet’s couch when she awoke to find him attempting to pull off her pajama pants. The same girl said she witnessed Bousquet masturbate on his living room couch in her presence multiple times.

The boy, 16, also said Bousquet masturbated in front of him on another occasion, police said.

There were several allegations of Bousquet inappropriately touching the girls’ breasts in addition to grabbing and shoving, said court papers.

The mother of the three children told police she and her children were in the process of moving from Maine to New Hampshire when she allowed the children to spend time at Bousquet’s home.

“She stated that there weren’t many nights during the summer when at least one of her children wasn’t with Bousquet at his house,” a court affidavit said.

Bousquet has been convicted three times since 2001 for failing to register as a sex offender and two additional cases for the same charge are pending. Those cases are in addition to the animal cruelty case and the charges filed yesterday.

Public defender Elizabeth Mulholland expressed concern in court over Bousquet’s incarceration, saying he could lose the job he recently obtained at Bow Finishing in Concord, where he works as an early morning delivery driver. Bousquet is due back in court Oct. 19 for a probable cause hearing. His trial date was set for Dec. 16.

Not even a strong gust of wind could topple the high spirits of Old Home Day participants on Donati Field on Saturday, Oct. 10.

At about 1 p.m., the wind blew a large, inflatable bounce house completely upside down as about 20 small children played inside. Parents and volunteers with horrified expressions rushed to it searching for young kids and attempting to upright the inflatable device. While some kids looked a bit spooked, not a single child was injured.

High winds became an issue throughout the afternoon, nearly knocking over the police department’s tent as well. But most kids and adults alike didn’t let the blustery conditions blow away their spirits.

Town Administrator Carol Granfield, who was wearing a T-shirt that read, “Hooksett: Voted 66th best place to live in America,” referring to the ranking by Money magazine this past summer, said she was impressed by the turnout.

“This is awesome. It’s beyond my expectations,” said Granfield, attending her first Old Home Day since becoming the town administrator in the spring. “It’s a great family event and it’s a great day for everyone to get out and enjoy the festivities.”

Carmen Perron of Hooksett said she has brought her 7-year-old son, Damian, to Old Home Day since he was 1. “He likes to see his friends. He’s a little social butterfly,” Perron said. “It’s very family oriented and you get to see people you haven’t seen in a while.”

Damian appeared excited as he was being strapped to bungee cords before jumping off a trampoline about 15 feet into the air. “Jumping very high was awesome,” Damian said afterward.

Among the dozens of tables set up by volunteer groups and area businesses was one manned by Manchester Central High School’s Key Club, a community service group that gets sponsorship from local organizations, including the Kiwanis Club. The students conducted face painting for younger children and sand art.

“It’s really rewarding,” said Jayne Kelly, 16, of Hooksett, president of the Key Club. “You can tell they’re happy when they leave.”

Other notable activities included a “Guitar Hero” contest inside the Town Hall building and the town’s food pantry holding an open house at its new location, which is also inside Town Hall.

State Rep. David Boutin has filed legislation at the State House that would allow police departments more freedom to notify residents when convicted sex offenders move to town.

Boutin filed the bill on Thursday, Sept. 24, in response to a Town Council meeting a day earlier that was filled with parents upset that a convicted child rapist was released from jail after his arrest the week before for molesting another child.

“Most people don’t have at the top of their to-do list, ‘Tonight before I go to bed, I’m going to check the sex offender Web site,’” said Boutin, who is also a town councilor and is running for State Senate as a Republican. “It’s not something people think about and it’s probably something people block out.”

At the Town Council meeting, Tracy Curtis spoke on behalf of several people who live near Joel Dutton, 45, at 24 Dundee Ave., the convicted rapist who was released from jail on personal recognizance after his child molestation arrest Sept. 18. Curtis asked the council to adopt a town-wide ordinance that restricts convicted sex offenders from living within a certain distance of schools, playgrounds and other locations children tend to congregate.

“Our community has been in outrage this week,” Curtis said.

One of the neighbors’ concerns was that Dutton lives about 100 feet from a school bus stop and Lambert Park at the intersection of Merrimack Street. The Hooksett Police Department said it has asked the school resource officer to stand at the bus stop every morning and afternoon while Dutton is free awaiting trial.

A Banner correspondent did not see a police officer at the bus stop as children exited the bus on the afternoon of Tuesday, Sept. 22, while Dutton gave an interview from his home to a television reporter. However, Lt. Troy Cline said the SRO wasn’t asked to stand at the bus stop until Wednesday, Sept. 23, and has been going there since.

Town Administrator Carol Granfield said she sought advice of legal counsel and was advised against such sex offender residency restriction. In Dover, such an ordinance was lifted this summer after a district court judge ruled it was unconstitutional.

“The town clearly has the same concerns as you do,” Granfield told residents at the meeting. “The ordinance is not going to help because legally it’s unenforceable.”

Boutin says he’s working with the Department of Safety and Department of Justice to develop guidelines for his proposal. He says courts generally frown on ordinances that are considered punitive, so he’s taking another approach.

“If it’s considered protective, we have a better chance,” he said. “If it’s challenged, it will be upheld because it’s geared toward neighborhood protection. It’s about how we can establish notification procedures that are effective and legal.”

Boutin says he’s contacted a representative from the New Hampshire Civil Liberties Union who’s agreed to work with him on the proposal.

“I wouldn’t say that she’s supporting it but she understands there’s a problem and has agreed to work with me,” he said.

Several other state representatives have asked to co-sponsor the bill, he said.

At the Town Council meeting, Councilor David Ross suggested the town consider forming a class action lawsuit for the right to form sex offender residency restrictions if it wants to. The American Civil Liberties Union has said it’s working to challenge the ordinances.

“I think towns aren’t going to bat against the ACLU. This organization repeatedly goes against the will of the voters and I find that is a problem,” Ross said. “I think what we should do is enter into a type of class action. Perhaps maybe that would encourage other communities to band together.”

Since the meeting, the Town of Hooksett’s official Web site has provided a link to the state’s sex offender registry Web site after the council unanimously passed a motion to do so.

Town councilors also endorsed the idea of neighborhoods to form crime watch groups. Before Dutton’s arrest, a similar proposal was made at the town’s Police Commission meeting. At the time, Commissioner Joanne McHugh expressed concern over burglaries and a mugging at the Hannaford supermarket parking lot that left a 70-year-old woman severely injured.

The chairman of the Hooksett Police Commission is defending the Hooksett police chief, who reportedly made a remark to a town councilor that some interpreted as a threat.

“He could not have said that,” said David Gagnon, Police Commission chairman.

Gagnon is referring to a comment Chief Stephen Agrafiotis allegedly made to Town Councilor David Boutin, who is also a state representative, about a proposal Boutin plans to bring to the State House to increase the number of Hooksett Police Commission members from three to five. Boutin explained at the Sept. 9 Town Council meeting that he delayed filing the bill because of a perceived threat Agrafiotis made to him if the bill were filed.

“He told me he would hang Hooksett’s laundry out to dry,” Boutin said.

Once Boutin made the statement, several councilors asked if he considered Agrafiotis’ alleged words a threat.

“No,” Boutin said. “He wasn’t threatening me. He was saying what he was going to do.”

After discussion with the councilors, Boutin said he had no problem filing the bill with the council’s support.

“Many of us have talked to people in the community and the community will support it,” Boutin said. “If you’re willing to take the risk, I’d be happy to do it.”

Hooksett’s Police Commission was formed through the state Legislature in 1975 and any changes to the commission must be approved at the state level. The Town Council unanimously passed a motion during the Sept. 9 meeting to support legislation to increase the number of members.

In a phone interview, Agrafiotis said he did have a conversation with Boutin following a nonpublic Town Council session Aug. 26, but denied making the “laundry” remark.

“What I told him was that I did not believe that it was good for the town to have an expanded Police Commission at this time,” Agrafiotis said. “And that if the bill went up to Concord that I would go up to testify and say what has been going on.”

Gagnon, who has served on the Police Commission for nine years, said he cannot understand why there’s a push to increase the number of board members.

“I would like to know the reasoning behind it,” Gagnon said.

Gagnon said he was nearby when Boutin and Agrafiotis had the conversation and does not remember hearing the alleged threat. “If they (town councilors) feel he did say it, they can come to us and file a complaint,” he said.

Every town councilor gave input about the issue during the council meeting and all said they would support increasing the members from three to five.

“I think a larger group would be better,” Councilor David Ross said. “When you have more people involved in the decision you have less of a chance or having ill-perceived ulterior motives.”

“The size of the town has grown since the commission was set up for three members 34 years ago,” Councilor Nancy VanScoy said.

The commission has been a source of controversy in the past few years. Many believe the Police Department has suffered a high employee turnover rate since Agrafiotis took over in 1999. In 2005, Agrafiotis was suspended when 17 officers filed a formal complaint alleging harassment and intimidation. The chief was eventually allowed back to work after an independent investigation was completed by Gerard Hayes, a labor consultant from Brookline, Mass. Agrafiotis said he was exonerated, but the results were never made public.

One of the 17 officers was Jason Defina, who was fired by the Police Commission in a 2-1 vote during a nonpublic session on Sept. 8. The Police Commission has not stated why Defina was terminated, citing confidentiality laws.

Hooksett police officer Jason Defina, the school resource officer who was reassigned last spring despite community objections, was fired by the Hooksett Police Commission on Sept. 8.

Defina, 35, a Marine Corps veteran who has been with the Police Department since 1999, said he plans a legal fight to get his job back.

“I will still be a cop,” Defina said. “There is no doubt in my mind that I will be back in Hooksett. I will be back with the Police Department and I deserve to be. I’ve done nothing wrong.”

Defina, Police Chief Stephen Agrafiotis nor the three Police Commission members have said publicly why Defina was terminated.

On Sept. 10, Police Commission Chairman David Gagnon said Defina has the right to unseal his personnel file if he wants the details to come out.

“If Defina is the perfect angel that he wants to say he is, he can release his file. It’s that simple,” Gagnon said. “That’s the only way it can be done, through him.”

The commission voted 2-1 for Defina’s termination during a nonpublic meeting. Commissioners Gagnon and Henry Roy voted in favor of termination; Joanne McHugh dissented.

Gagnon says the board is legally unable to say the reason why Defina was let go.

“It’s unfortunate that we are obligated to stand behind non-disclosure because it is a personnel issue,” Gagnon said.

The commission’s lawyer, Jim Higgins, said a clause in the state’s Right to Know law prohibits the commission from releasing information on personnel without the person’s permission.

Defina’s lawyer, Bill Cahill, when reached Sept. 10, said he had not released the reason given for Defina’s termination because Defina had not received anything in writing from the Police Commission.

“I don’t have anything in writing. That’s why no one can say,” Cahill said. “Jay Defina has not received anything in writing.”

Defina says he’s following his lawyer’s orders for now.

“I have the right to make everything public if I want,” Defina said. “I have in the past, and that’s why I’m in the situation I’m in… It will all come out in the end. There are serious issues that have to be addressed.”

A few hours after he was fired, Defina implied that his termination was a result of suspensions in January for petty reasons and bad blood that has boiled between him and Agrafiotis since 2005, when Defina was one of 17 officers who signed a formal written complaint against the chief that resulted in the chief’s suspension.

Defina said McHugh, who became the newest-appointed Police Commission member over the summer, became emotional when the vote to fire him was taken. “She was very emotional. It was very sad,” he said.

McHugh said she could not comment on the situation.

Defina gained a large amount of community support last spring after Agrafiotis removed him as the Cawley Middle School’s student resource officer. Residents and students overflowed a Police Commission meeting in late July begging Agrafiotis for Defina’s return. Defina was reassigned to the midnight-to-8 a.m. patrol shift until his termination.

Agrafiotis said Defina’s reassignment was due to staffing issues.

“Jay had done an outstanding job as the SRO in the Hooksett schools,” former School Board Chairman Maura Ouellette said. “His termination has nothing to do with his competence as a police officer. In my opinion, it’s a direct result of the mismanagement of the Hooksett Police Department.”