One arrested, two more wanted, after over 20 unlocked vehicles broken into in Somerset

Police arrested one and are searching for two others after as many as two dozen vehicles were broken into in Somerset.

According to Somerset Police, shortly after 1:00 a.m. on Sunday, a resident of the Thelma Avenue area discovered that someone had entered their car and took various items from inside. The victim drove to the police station and reported the crime to Police Dispatcher Justin Santos. Officers immediately responded to the area to search for the offenders. A systematic and thorough search of the neighborhood was conducted by officers who soon determined that several more vehicles had been entered. The investigation revealed that the suspect was most likely on foot and was checking vehicles for unlocked doors. Officers found stolen property dropped along the driveways and streets near the other vehicles. They also observed exterior security cameras on a few houses and spoke with the owners of the cameras. Officers soon learned that there were three male suspects who had been in the area almost one hour earlier.

Officers widened the search area to the streets north of the original location as it was apparent the suspects were moving in that direction. As their search crossed Read Street in a northernly direction along Brayton Avenue towards the town line, officers contacted the Swansea Police Department for assistance. Not long after, three males were seen running away as the officers approached. Somerset Officer Lance Rhodes was able to locate and detain one of the males, a juvenile, as he attempted to hide from officers. The juvenile was placed under arrest after evidence was found linking him to the car breaks. A lengthy search of the neighborhood was conducted but the two unidentified suspects were not located.

Officers continued their investigation throughout the morning and discovered that between 20-25 vehicles had been entered by the suspects during the overnight hours. Officers took additional reports as residents began to wake up in the morning and discovered their vehicles had been ransacked by the suspects. In all instances, the vehicles were not broken into or damaged by the suspects as they chose to only enter cars which they found to be unlocked. In some cases, police found money and car keys which were not taken by the teenage suspects.

The juvenile male was arrested and later released to the custody of his parents. He will be arraigned on Monday at the Fall River Juvenile Court where he will be charged with multiple counts of Larceny and Breaking & Entering into the Vehicles. Officers continue to investigate the crimes and hope to identify the other suspects.

Police Chief William Tedford praised the officers involved for their rapid response and thorough investigation which led to the arrest of one of the suspects and the recovery of a quantity of stolen property. The responding officers included Sgt. Eli Fishbein and Patrol Officers Lance Rhodes, Stephens Lima, and Christopher Rodrigues. Chief Tedford also thanked the Swansea Police Department for their assistance in the search.

Finally, the Somerset Police Department would like to remind everyone that, while Somerset continues to enjoy a low level of crime, taking a few simple precautions can help keep the community safe. They encourage residents to lock their vehicle and home doors, as these small steps can help prevent crimes of opportunity.