Salem Drug House Raided, Woman Busted with Stolen Items

A Salem woman has been arrested for allegedly obtaining heroin by trading items she received from "potentially dozens" of residential burglaries throughout the area.

Rita Cooper, 48, was charged Thursday night with a felony count of receiving stolen property and a felony count of possession of a controlled drug with intent to distribute.

Salem Deputy Police Chief Shawn Patten said Derry police detectives contacted his department Thursday about an investigation into residential burglaries in four or five communities, including Salem, Derry, Auburn and Londonderry.

Derry had arrested an individual in connection to the burglaries Tuesday, and Cooper was named as an individual they believed may have been trading some of the stolen merchandise for drugs at a home at 4 North Main St. in Salem, according to Patten.

Investigators discovered that "numerous firearms," "multiple people" and dogs were at that Salem home, and the Southern New Hampshire Special Operations Unit was called in to execute a search warrant at the home at 8 p.m. Thursday, according to Patten.

Patten said the residence was secured "without incident." Thousands of dollars worth of stolen jewelry, including an expensive Rolex watch, and a "significant amount" of heroin were recovered from the home.

Patten said the investigation is still "active" and that there is "the potential for more arrests and charges."

"The detectives are trying to categorize [all of the stolen items]," said Patten. "It's a lengthy and labor intensive process."

Cooper, who isn't suspected of orchestrating the residential  was released on $10,000 personal recognizance bail and is scheduled for an arraignment in Salem District Court.