HYANNIS, MASSACHUSETTS — Barnstable Police used a police drone and K-9 unit early Wednesday morning to track down and arrest Jakari Sylvia, the same Hyannis man who has been repeatedly accused of breaking into dozens of cars across the Town of Barnstable while cycling in and out of the local justice system.

In the latest incident, officers responded to a just-reported car break-in on Seagate Lane in the Old Strawberry Hill Road area around 4 a.m. Wednesday. Sylvia, 20, matched the suspect description and took off running the moment he spotted police. Drone footage (see following video) captured him scaling fences and sprinting through backyards before he tried to hide alongside a house. Officers were guided directly to his location and took him into custody without further incident.

Sylvia was charged with four counts of Breaking and Entering a Motor Vehicle, five counts of Attempted Breaking and Entering a Motor Vehicle, and two counts of Larceny Under $1,200. He was arraigned the same day in Barnstable District Court and ordered held on $2,000 cash bail. The case is being prosecuted by the Cape & Islands District Attorney’s Office.

This marks Sylvia’s third arrest (that we currently know about) for the exact same crime spree pattern.

In July 2024, at age 19, he was charged with breaking into multiple vehicles in Hyannis and Centerville. He was released on just $40 personal recognizance.

Two months later, while still out on that low bail, he was arrested again — this time accused of hitting 21 more vehicles in Hyannis, including three actual car thefts. Police recovered stolen property during a search of his home. He was ordered held on $2,250 bail with GPS monitoring if released.

Despite those prior cases, reports of car breaks continued in the same neighborhoods.

Barnstable Police say close to a dozen motor-vehicle breaks have occurred in the Old Strawberry Hill Road area in recent weeks. The following video shows drone footage of Wednesday’s manhunt, showing Sylvia fleeing through residential backyards.

The seemingly revolving-door pattern of our local justice system has frustrated many in the Hyannis community, where residents have repeatedly been told to follow the “9pm Routine” — lock cars, remove valuables, and leave lights on — only to see the same suspect back on the street and allegedly at it again.

This investigation remains active.

[BPD VIDEO – PRESS PLAY]

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HN Reminder: The initial details contained in the above report are based on radio transmissions and information from Barnstable Police sources. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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