Previous home break-in leads to break-in arrest of local man in Westport

Westport Police have arrested a break-in suspect after being caught on camera.

On October 15, 2018 at approximately 1:23PM several police officers were called to 32 Kirby Road for a break-in progress. The caller told police she had a real-time surveillance system installed and a male suspect was inside her apartment stealing various items. Police arrived within a couple minutes and the caller told police the suspect looked out a window as police arrived. She told police the suspect fled from her apartment and went into an adjacent next door apartment.

Police surrounded the scene and contacted other tenants. A Dartmouth Police K9 was also called to the scene. Officers subsequently entered the apartment and located a male identified as Kevin Dias, 38, of Tiverton, hiding behind clothes inside a small closet. The suspect had entered apartment 2 North which was being rented by Dias’ girlfriend. She was cooperative with police, identified her boyfriend and spoke with him on the phone while he was hiding. She also told police she attempted to get him to exit the apartment on his own which he refused.

He also refused to exit the closet and fought with police. Dias was arrested and denied committing the crime. He told police he was afraid because he had a 5-year jail sentence hanging over his head on a previous RI case.

Officers viewed the video and identified Dias as the break-in suspect. Officers were told by the victim that the apartment had been broken into last week as well which precipitated the camera installation. The suspect had taken coins, jewelry and a friend’s birthday card with an enclosed $40 dollar Victoria Secret gift card.

Investigators obtained a search warrant to look for the stolen items. Officers located the sweatshirt the suspect was seen wearing in the video as well as some of the jewelry. Officers also located a receipt from Victoria Secret and clothing purchased on the $40-dollar gift card a day earlier. The gift card had been stolen in last week’s break-in.

Kevin Dias was charged with Breaking and Entering in the daytime, malicious damage to the apartment door as he pried it open as well as Resisting Arrest.