Recent car break-ins within the city have prompted Cranston Police to remind residents to lock their doors and remove valuables from their vehicles. Since Aug. 20, 18 car break-ins have occurred overnight in the Pontiac Avenue, Rolfe Square and Garden City Drive areas. The department apprehended four juveniles Saturday after a car break-in attempt on Florida Avenue, and police are currently looking into the minors’ connection to the previous incidents.

On Saturday around 1:30 a.m., police received a call of someone going up to a car and attempting to get into it. Cranston Police Department’s Major Todd Patalano said the department immediately flooded the area with police patrol vehicles. 

One officer located a car off Florida Avenue and, as the officer approached the vehicle, the car took off. Patalano said the vehicle struck a curb, blew out a tire and police pursued the vehicles’ five occupants on foot. Four individuals were apprehended – one individual got away and at this time remains unidentified.

Police discovered the vehicle had been stolen six days prior and the four juveniles were from Providence; they were charged with Possession of a Stolen Motor vehicle and Conspiracy and, as a result of family court, released to their parents.

Patalano said the department is looking into determining if these minors were responsible for other car break-ins. Currently, there is no link, but the department is using its Flock camera system to see if the stolen vehicle was in the city on previous nights where car break-ins were experienced. Cranston Police will also look at residents’ surveillance camera footage to see if the descriptions match the juveniles; he said lots of times, these individuals will wear the same backpacks or articles of clothing during car break-ins.

While this remains under investigation, the department has taken to sharing safety tips with residents via social media. Cranston Chief of Police Col. Michael Winquist said the most basic thing residents can do is lock their cars. Many of the 18 vehicles that were broken into since Aug. 20 were left unlocked. He added that the newer vehicles’ side mirrors fold in when the car is locked so, if thieves who are walking the neighborhood recognize this feature, they know which cars are easiest to break into.

Winquist said car break-ins tend to occur around 2 a.m. or 3 a.m. when individuals are sleeping and there is less activity in the vicinity. Major Todd Patalano added that individuals are in and out of a car within 30 seconds – quickly going through the glove box and scanning the interior. Criminals will try car doors and remove valuables – such as cash and electronics. In some cases, Winquist said in the past they have received reports of stolen vehicles because people left their key fobs in the vehicle.

Since most of the crimes are occurring at night, Winquist suggested motion activated lights for residents. Doorbell cameras and spotlight cameras are also helpful in recording videos.

Car break-ins are not a Cranston-specific problem. Winquist said other cities, like Providence, and rural departments are just as affected – noting that Jamestown recently got hit.

Patalano said the department has extra patrols on the roads ever since being hit with these break-ins. Winquist added that when officers see something or someone suspicious, they will stop and speak with the individual and conduct a field report if they feel that the activity is suspicious.

The department is asking car owners who have had their vehicles rummaged through (but had nothing stolen) to still report this information to the police since little things can turn into big things; these tips help the department’s crime analyst look for patterns and focus resources in the affected areas. Patalano said the department has found information about car break-ins from residents’ posts on Facebook and Instagram.

Car break-ins are usually at random, with Winquist saying that thieves hit up a neighborhood and then there is no activity for a while. The thieves are usually one or two individuals or are part of larger, coordinated efforts. Individuals will purposely wear hoods and/or face masks so they aren’t as identifiable on camera. The department has had some arrests which usually have to do with being in the right place at the right time.

While more car break-ins occur during the warmer months, it doesn’t mean they are restricted to the longer months. Other tips from the department include keeping your garage door closed and double checking that it is closed at night. Also, removing valuables from your car.

Winquist said there was a recent break-in out of Alpine Estates and is asking residents who may have any small bit of information – whether it be a car parked in the area or suspicious activity – to call the Cranston Police Department and ask for the Detective Division. The more information they have, the better chance they have at solving the crime.