Police seek suspects in DPW yard joy rides

By Ethan Hartley
Posted 8/23/18

By ETHAN HARTLEY -- Warwick Police detectives are seeking input from anybody who may have more information about a trespassing incident that turned into a demolition derby of temporarily stolen DPW vehicles last week.

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Police seek suspects in DPW yard joy rides

Posted

Warwick Police detectives are seeking input from anybody who may have more information about a trespassing incident that turned into a demolition derby of temporarily stolen DPW vehicles last week.

According to Detective Christopher Lo, in the late evening, early morning hours of Wednesday, Aug. 15 into Thursday, Aug. 16 two suspects reportedly hopped the fence or disengaged a lock that secured Department of Public Works vehicles in a lot off Sandy Lane. Lo said police believed it could have been the area of fence near the Mickey Stevens swimming pool in the corner of the complex, near the basketball courts.

The suspects then proceeded to somehow gain access to keys for three of the department’s vehicles, including a pickup truck, a Ford Taurus car and a Ford Transit utility van. Lo said the suspects then proceeded to “play cat and mouse” games with one another, driving the vehicles around the lot recklessly.

As a result of this activity, Lo said that seven vehicles were damaged, as well as a gas pump that the department stores on the lot, which was crashed into despite being surrounded by cement bollards for protection.

Lo said that there was evidence the suspects tried to “jump start” or potentially hotwire one of the large heavy loading trucks, as the ignition had been “ripped out” of the dash, however it appeared they were unable to successfully do so.

Lo said that there is no useful surveillance footage from the incident, and is hopeful that somebody in the public might have caught wind of somebody talking about the incident online or elsewhere.

“We don't have a good depiction of suspects at this time,” Lo said. “We're hoping someone has information on people who could have bragged about doing it or saw some social media posts discussing the incident.”

Lo said that he has reached out to the city DPW to assess how much damage was caused in the incident, but has not received a figure at this time. DPW interim director Matthew Solitro did not return multiple calls requesting comment on the matter.

Anyone with any information on the crime can contact the Warwick Police Department Detectives Unit at 401-468-4233 or the main department number at 401-468-4200.

Comments

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  • Cat2222

    I would be more concerned with how the suspect managed "to somehow gain access to keys for three of the department’s vehicles" at this point if you can't identify him by camera. Clearly security needs to be the #1 priority at this point.

    Thursday, August 23, 2018 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    So let's look at the obvious. The DPW, who has had thieves from within prosecuted in the past, don't have camera coverage on the entire property. Much like they don't have GPS in any of the vehicles.

    "The suspects then proceeded to somehow gain access to keys for three of the department’s vehicles."

    In other words, the incompetent individuals who run the joint left the keys in the vehicles, (which is a common practice in that yard). And we are all surprised? Really?

    Several million dollars of equipment in a yard that does not have adequate surveillance, and we have no answers. One thing that we now know is that even the gas pump does not have coverage by the cameras. This bolsters the point made long ago that it was common place to steal gas.

    At what point will the examples of incompetence cease to be an every day occurrence in this city?

    This also begs the question as to when we lost sanitation trucks due to mysterious fires. Yeah right !

    Thursday, August 23, 2018 Report this

  • tcp

    Call the FBI! We need a full investigation. A couple of teenagers went for a joyride. We need to apprehend them and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law!! Take away their video games, expel them from school, and force them to wash the garbage trucks every day as community service!

    Rob get a life!

    Thursday, August 23, 2018 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear Notmycaptain,

    Hold on.

    Rob Cote is right on this one. Not necessarily on other issues, not necessarily respectful of anyone, but right on this issue. The yard needs to be much more secure. The temptation is too great to steal gas, "borrow" equipment, and take advantage in ways the taxpayer will never uncover. All this can be eliminated if the Mayor of Warwick required greater security of the taxpayers assets. I don't know if more cameras or GPS systems are the answer, but a better system of checks and balances is greatly needed. As Mayor, I will solicit ideas to better protect these "taxpayers assets", from the DPW workers, from other municipal employees, from taxpayers, from the City Council, and even from Rob Cote. The end result will be a better run and much more secure DPW yard.

    Happy August everyone.

    Rick Corrente

    The Taxpayers Mayor

    Friday, August 24, 2018 Report this

  • CrickeeRaven

    "Not necessarily [correct] on other issues, not necessarily respectful of anyone..."

    The make-believe mayor is hypocritical in criticizing other commenters or saying they are incorrect or disrespectful -- his own record on this website is one of repeating false claims and name-calling, along with complaining about the use of screen names.

    "As Mayor..."

    The 2016 losing candidate will lose again this year, meaning any promises he makes are empty.

    Thousands of honest, taxpaying voters will overwhelmingly reject his candidacy again on Sept. 12.

    Friday, August 24, 2018 Report this

  • Cat2222

    Notmycaptain - Where do you think the money is going to come from to fix or replace the vehicles that were taken on a joyride? If we find and persecute the person, we could possibly recoup some of the money. As it stands, any repairs/replacements will be funded by taxpayers dollars. Are you really okay with that? There should be better security and Thecaptain is correct in stating that there was an internal problem of theft in previous years so his point is valid. I can appreciate sarcasm but not stupidity.

    Friday, August 24, 2018 Report this

  • wwkvoter

    300 million city, and the biggest pool of assets has NO CAMERAS, AND KEYS LEFT ACCESSIBLE!

    Rob Cote is and was RIGHT. And I thought after the DPW Thief Saga, and the Cruze-N-Park scandals, we'd have GPS in the vehicles by now and I thought I read that had been implemented. Guess not.

    This is a DISGRACE.

    Friday, August 24, 2018 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    And there is no end in sight and no cognitive plan to fix anything.

    Friday, August 24, 2018 Report this

  • JohnStark

    For many, many decades the DPW has been a swamp. Rule 1 of the Swamp: The swamp is accountable to the swamp and only the swamp.

    Tuesday, August 28, 2018 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Several months ago I was given information that a previously arrested and prosecuted DPW worker with a colorful career was once again caught on video stealing. At the open mic session of the city council meeting I let the cat out of the bag and asked how this could be happening. Prior to my public statements, this newspaper contacted the DPW director and asked him what the deal was and he told the editor of this paper that he had no knowledge of the incident.

    After my remarks at the council meeting I was approached by Major Connors and he stated that he was disappointed that I made this public as there was an ongoing investigation. To date, where is the investigation? This is just another example how things get swept under the rug in Warwick.

    Remember the dirt thief video? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2b2e4tSHdY

    What happened to this thief? Promotion and retirement with 90K per year. Thats Warwick folks.

    Tuesday, August 28, 2018 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Or what about this one?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpI3nPd1fUM

    Tuesday, August 28, 2018 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Or how about this one?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tXLrIhEfOk

    You are paying for all of their healthcare and pension benefits.

    Tuesday, August 28, 2018 Report this

  • JohnStark

    Hey Captain,

    The best way to ensure that there will never, ever, be a consequence is to conduct an "ongoing investigation". When that 'investigation' inevitably comes up empty, blame it on a "lack of resources".

    Wednesday, August 29, 2018 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear John Stark, Thecaptain, Cat2222, Notmycaptain, WrkVoter, and anyone else who wants to suggest,

    We agree. That's a start. We all feel that the DPW needs better, tighter security. What would you suggest as an improvement?

    Rick Corrente

    The Taxpayers Mayor

    Wednesday, August 29, 2018 Report this

  • Cat2222

    Just the basics that any private company employs:

    -Background checks on potential employees

    -Security system monitoring - we used AAA Alarms and Fire Protection in West Warwick. It was quite reasonable. It covered a full warehouse, fleet vehicles and office doors/windows/offices.

    -working cameras outside and inside the building

    -A combination lock box which holds all the keys and requires a pin to access. Go the extra mile and have individual key codes for each employee so you know who accessed the box and when. Again, AAA Alarms.

    -Door fob with each having an individual pin to enter/exit the facilities. Monitored 24/7 so you know who and when someone enters.

    - Accountability from outside the DPW as they have proven they cannot monitor themselves effectively

    -City Council, Mayor and WPD all on the same side investigating crimes and full disclosure of what is going on so they can potentially stop what happened with thecaptain. It wasn't that he was wrong to bring it up, it was that it wasn't communicated to others. It wouldn't have been a compromising situation if others were in the know and could have halted the comments. I don't think thecaptain would have been upset to be stopped. His reasoning for bringing it to light was because it appeared as if nothing was being done.

    -Making employees that indulge in criminal action at the expense of the taxpayers accountable and not rewarded. Now that would be REVOLUTIONARY IN WARWICK!

    Very basic and simple tactics that would help minimize the criminal activity. But I doubt a single thing will be done because that would probably implicate 1 or more of the current employees.

    Wednesday, August 29, 2018 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear Cat2222,

    You and I haven't always agreed on things but what you wrote here is nothing less than brilliant. I thank you sincerely with one of two promises. As Mayor I will submit legislation to the City Council for everything you suggested. If I don't get elected, I will send a letter to whoever does strongly recommending your ideas. I especially like having "outside the DPW" accountability. It can't be influenced by "politics".

    Cat2222, you know me to be persistent. I will follow up with your ideas and give credit to you when one or more of them get put into action.

    Again, thank you for being part of the solution.

    Happy August Cat2222.

    Rick Corrente

    The Taxpayers Mayor

    Wednesday, August 29, 2018 Report this

  • wwkvoter

    I watched those links and they say that the DPW theft person got fired? Thats not how I remember it

    Wednesday, August 29, 2018 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Wwkvoter,

    Here is what happened. The scum bag thief was brought into a room with the union president, the DPW director, and the city lawyer. He openly stated that if he was fired he was going to sing like a bird and throw everyone under the bus. So what they did several weeks later was to engineer a method to wrongfully fire him so they would have to re-hire him. So they suspended him for 10 days. Then upon review of his statements (and I have ALL of the court documents and police records) because he stated that he didn't get permission to "borrow", they fired him. The firing was determined to be a double penalty, Yuk yuk.

    Then the prosecution began and for 9 months the trial was postponed until they got 2 former DPW workers to testify stating that the DPW highway chief and director allowed a borrowing policy (including gas that did not have to be replaced) at any time without permission. So the case was dismissed and he was re-instated with full back pay and full benefits.

    Then the scum bag defaulted on his $7350.00 legal bill to attorney Revens, who by the way, has at numerous times represented the city of Warwick.

    Wednesday, August 29, 2018 Report this

  • CrickeeRaven

    Cat, it's notable that, when you offer constructive ideas to address a major issue in the city, the make-believe mayor no longer attempts to scold you for using a screen name -- although he does continue with the patronizing comments: "If I don't get elected, I will send a letter to whoever does strongly recommending your ideas."

    I am sure you are quite capable of bringing these ideas to the city council or appropriate city officials by yourself and don't need the help of a soon-to-be two-time election loser whose party doesn't even listen to him.

    "[Y]ou know me to be persistent."

    Yes, we do know how often the make-believe mayor has repeated false statements, attacked other commenters, and argued against public information about him -- all to support a campaign that raised $0 in outside contributions and lost the party endorsement.

    I am sure you won't be fooled by his attempts to be conciliatory two weeks before the primary, when he knows his candidacy will come to an end in humiliating fashion.

    You and I and thousands of honest, taxpaying voters will ensure that he can not fool us, and we will be correct in overwhelmingly rejecting his campaign yet again on Sept. 12.

    Wednesday, August 29, 2018 Report this

  • Cat2222

    No worries. One of the reasons why I answered the question n the first place was because anyone with half a brain would know what needs to be done. We also know why it won't be done. Empty claims from RC because any elected mayor would either be part of the problem or blocked from a solution.

    I am honestly disheartened by this election season. Nothing changes. The same people who are in it for self interest are still in it and will not make any changes that affect their livelihood. I am too young to believe that there is no hope but darn it, this city seems bent on driving itself into a ditch.

    Even if someone starts out with good intentions, they all end up in the same place. Watching out for their own best interests and forgetting they were elected to serve their community.

    Thursday, August 30, 2018 Report this

  • Cat2222

    And BTW RC - I didn't forget your comment about me not knowing how to think for myself and blindly follow other commenters. You don't get to swat me down one moment and then heap on praise in the next. I don't need your approval or anyone else approval for that matter. My opinions are my own and don't require validation from anyone. The moment you typed that sentence is the moment I wrote you off completely.

    Thursday, August 30, 2018 Report this