Surge in car thefts; police urge people to lock cars

By Ethan Hartley
Posted 8/2/18

By ETHAN HARTLEY Residents are once more urged to make sure that they lock their car doors and to not leave any valuables inside their vehicles, as a group of teenagers or young adults have once again been reported roving through various parts of Warwick

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Surge in car thefts; police urge people to lock cars

Posted

Residents are once more urged to make sure that they lock their car doors and to not leave any valuables inside their vehicles, as a group of teenagers or young adults have once again been reported roving through various parts of Warwick looking for easy pickings among parked cars in various neighborhoods.

Warwick Police officials reported on Wednesday that, after a brief lull in reported larcenies following media coverage of a string of around 18 thefts (more of which likely went unreported) from parked cars that occurred between July 13 and July 23, the reports have sprung up again as recently as the early hours of Monday, July 30 and Tuesday the 31st.

Detective Sgt. Tom DiGregorio said Wednesday that there was no particular pattern emerging as to what cars are targeted or why, merely that the young opportunistic thieves – some of whom utilize bicycles and some who are on foot – are simply checking for unlocked doors and cars that have valuables readily apparent inside.

“Number one, lock your cars. I only had one that had a broken window, all the others have been unlocked vehicles,” DiGregorio said. “If your car has been broken into it, report it to us. If we don’t know about it there's nothing we can do to combat it.”

DiGregorio said that the larcenies have taken place along the main corridor of Warwick Avenue, from Stanmore Road and Lakeshore Drive near Warwick Pond all the way up north to Governor Francis Farms and the Lakewood neighborhoods. He said the most recent report from late night Tuesday/early morning Wednesday occurred in Governor Francis.

DiGregorio said that 9-1-1 should be called only if the situation warrants an emergency, otherwise residents should call the police business line at 468-4200 to report any suspicious activity they seen occurring in their neighborhood. He said that officers and detectives were thoroughly investigation and conducting frequent stops of suspicious individuals at odd hours of the day walking around.

“It's our job to find out if they have a reason to be there or if they're up to no good,” he said.

Police Chief Colonel Stephen McCartney said that these types of reoccurring larcenies were unfortunately common throughout the country, and that such property crimes of opportunity were increasing in frequency.

“This is a regional and a national problem,” he said. “Too many people don't lock their cars, leave valuables in their cars and leave themselves open to this type of crime…It's a multi-faceted problem and it's not just a problem that is hitting Warwick.

Comments

1 comment on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here

  • davebarry109

    Not for nothin Mr. Howell but the title of this article should be: Surge in thefts from cars....not car thefts. Sloppy. Very sloppy.

    Thursday, August 2, 2018 Report this