WOONSOCKET, R.I. (WPRI) — Woonsocket Police say they have two suspects on their radar as they investigate a break-in at a city youth center.
Community Care Alliance is tightening up security after it says thieves broke in and stole $2,500 worth of belongings, including a flat-screen television, a cell phone, money and several gift cards.
The nonprofit said the suspects gained access through a window in the basement and jimmied the lock on the front door over the weekend. The suspects then ransacked offices and even used a crowbar to break open a filing cabinet.
“Everything that we had was locked away somewhere,” said manager Stump Evans. “They just figured out how to get access to it.”
Police said they’ve identified two suspects and hope to make an arrest in the near future, but it’s unclear if the center will ever get back the stolen goods.
Despite the building being equipped with surveillance cameras, the youth center says there’s no footage of the incident. It plans to resolve that issue in the near future.
“It’s unfortunate, particularly during the holidays,” said Community Care Alliance CEO Ben Lessing. “The kids we work with are disadvantaged. They came from tough backgrounds. This place is a safe haven for them.”
The center serves more than 1,000 at-risk youths and teenagers.
“When I saw everything was gone and they stole food and smoked in the bathroom, I was kind of like, ‘who would do that?’ You know?” asked Dekhi Touray, who goes to the center to study and get homework help.
Woonsocket police said a detective is assigned to the case as they continue to investigate.
