By Jessica Selby

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WEST WARWICK — There was a break-in at a West Warwick house on Wednesday, according to the West Warwick Police Department. On Thursday, the police said, they had a suspect in custody.

James Grilli, 25, of Sessions Street, Providence, was arrested Thursday and charged with breaking and entering of a dwelling house, according to the police.

On Wednesday, according to a press release, the West Warwick Police responded to Mary Avenue for a breaking and entering complaint. When the responding officer arrived at the scene, the release said, he observed that a door to the residence had been forced open and that numerous items were stolen from the residence.

The officer, Ptlm. Anthony Bettencourt, canvassed the neighborhood, the release states, and was able to obtain a car registration plate number of a possible suspect.

On Thursday, according to the release, Bettencourt was on patrol and saw a vehicle with the suspected registration plate from the incident on the previous day. Bettencourt conducted a traffic stop on the suspected vehicle, the release states.

While speaking to the operator of the vehicle, later identified as Grilli, and obtaining license, registration and proof of insurance, Bettencourt observed evidence in the car’s glove box that appeared to be property from the breaking and entering the previous day, according to the release.
The evidence became visible when the police officer asked the operator to provide the necessary paperwork, according to Sgt. Scott Amaral of the West Warwick Police Department.

Bettencourt placed Grilli under arrest, Amaral said, and brought him to the police station to process him on the breaking and entering charges. Grilli was arraigned on the charges in District Court yesterday morning.

Grilli is a former resident of West Warwick, according to the press release.

“It should be noted that the neighbors and the police worked well in this situation,” Amaral said. “A neighbor obtained a registration plate of the suspicious vehicle and provided this information to the investigating officer.

“Good police work prevailed when a dedicated officer was diligent and located the suspect vehicle the day after the break,” Amaral said. 

“In these tough economic times and with the holiday season fast approaching,” Amaral said, “breaks into houses tend to increase.”

The police department said it is asking neighbors to be on the look out for suspicious people and vehicles and is advising residents who suspect something is suspicious to call the police so they can investigate.

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