Warwick Man Robbing Items From Cars Reported by Neighbor, Arrested by Police

Warwick, RI – A Bayonne Avenue and Custer Street area man saved his neighbors from a rude surprise when he called the Warwick Police’s attention to a man stealing from cars June 29 at 3:23 a.m., likely thwarting several petty thefts.

Warwick Police responded to a call from the area of Bayonne Avenue and Custer Street morning about a person stealing from cars. Officer Christopher Fernandes and two other officers were called to the scene, according to Fernandes’s report.

Fernandes searched Bayonne Avenue in his cruiser, and spotted a man wearing dark clothing and a dark hat standing in the middle of the road. The officer asked the man to walk toward him, which he did.

Fernandes identified the man as Lorenzo Gonzalez, 19, of 1566 Shand Ave., Warwick. The officer searched him, finding $21 in cash, a blue flashlight, a pack of American Spirit rolling papers and a key ring.

The neighbor who made the report spoke with Fernandes, telling him that as he was smoking a cigarette on Bayonne Avenue, he saw a young man in dark clothing with black hat shine a flashlight into the windows of two cars, trie the doors, then went on to do the same with a car on Custer Avenue.

That car was unlocked, and the man got in and stayed there for about two minutes. A check with the owner of the unlocked car revealed that the rolling papers found on Gonzalez were the same brand as those that were in the car.

After reading Gonzalez his rights, Fernandes asked him if he’d entered the car. The man said he had, but only taken the rolling papers, tearing up as he spoke, according to the officer’s report.

Gonzalez also admitted to attempting to enter the other two vehicles.

Fernandes arrested Gonzalez, charging him with larceny of less than $1,500.