5 arrested in Cranston car breaks

CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI) -- Police announced arrests in two different cases of car break-ins in Cranston -- one case Wednesday morning in the Woodridge neighborhood, and another dating back to last weekend on Phenix Avenue.

Phenix Ave. larceny nets electronics, cash

About 4:30 a.m. Saturday morning, a resident on Phenix Avenue called police, saying a larceny was in progress -- with the suspects in an older model minivan, the driver wearing a striped shirt and gloves, and the passenger wearing a white shirt pulled over his head.

Officers had already been in the area because of previous larcenies from cars in the neighborhood. They quickly caught up with a vehicle speeding up Phenix Avenue towards Wilbur Avenue. When the vehicle pulled up short very quickly, they figured the occupants were about to run. They did, and while the driver and passenger were fleeing, the vehicle continued going -- rolling into a vehicle parked in a driveway.

The officers chased after the suspects, and arrested the driver, Ronald Burr, 18, of Warwick. They didn't immediately find the passenger, but found a backpack in a backyard where they'd seen him go. It was full of several GPS navigator units, loose change, and other items. Police eventually figured out eight cars had been broken into. Furthermore, the vehicle the pair had been in had been stolen from North Kingstown the day before.

Burr was charged with eight counts of larceny from a motor vehicle, receiving stolen goods, conspiracy to commit larceny, and eluding a police officer. Officers had also found "unlawful prescription medication" and marijuana on his person, according to a news release, and he was also charged with possession of marijuana. He was held without bail on a Superior Court violation.

Later, police identified the passenger as Nicholas Loverdi, 20, of Warwick. He was arrested that evening, charged with the same offenses, and was also held without bail as a Superior Court violator.

Cranston Police advise you, wherever you live, to keep your car doors locked at all times.

Woodridge haul nets $1,600 in cash and goods

About 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, a victim called police saying his Apple iPhone had been stolen from his car -- while the car was unlocked -- parked on Firethorn Lane, as he was visiting with a friend. The victim activated a "find my iPhone" feature which tracks the smartphone in real time, watching the smartphone's location moving on a computer while staying on the line with police dispatchers.

Cranston officers figured out the stolen phone was in a black Nissan Altima driving on Macon Street in the Woodridge neighborhood, and boxed it in.

Inside were three men, "who were at a loss to explain why they were out of breath and all soaking wet from the rain... after claiming they had never left the vehicle," Cranston Police said in a news release.

The driver of the car, Necoma Marshall, 21, of Providence, was removed from the vehicle. He denied having done anything wrong.

With that, officers told the police dispatchers to call the iPhone that had been stolen.

It rang in Marshall's back pocket.

They took him into custody without incident. Also on his person officers found a woman's change purse, two pairs of sunglasses, and a GPS navigator unit.

Officers then found GPS navigator units, cell phones and assorted watches on the other two suspects, Travis Prout-Erinakes, 25, of Cranston, and Marques Gore, 21, of Newport.

All three men were charged with receiving stolen property and conspiracy to receive stolen goods. In addition, Marques Gore had two outstanding warrants for his arrest, and he was held without bail. Prout-Erinakes and Marshall are due to appear before a District Court judge on Oct. 2.

Police are now trying to match up owners with the stolen property.