Johnston Senator's Cars Hit in Recent Thefts

Two cars belonging to a Johnston state senator were among those listed by the Johnston Police as targets of car theft over Labor Day weekend.

Sen. Frank Lombardo, of 68 Rollingwood Drive, told police that an iPod, a radar detector, an E-Z Pass transponder, two pairs of sunglasses, and a Shell gas card had been stolen from his autos.

It was the use of the Shell card that led police to post photos of the suspect in the Johnston car thefts on the Rhode Island's Most Wanted website earlier this week, according to Ptlm. Jared Deangelis.

DeAngelis reported that he went to Lombardo's home on Sept. 2 at about 11:30 a.m. to investigate what he described as Lombardo's "unsecured motor vehicles," and advised Lombardo to cancel his gas card.

Later Monday, DeAngelis reported that he was speaking by phone with a Citi representative about the stolen card when the suspect used the card at the Shell Gas Station at 1414 Newport Ave., Pawtucket — and the sale registered on the representative's computer.

DeAngelis "immediately contacted the Shell station" and spoke with the owner, who said he had taken cellphone photos of the suspect, and that he would also provide surveillance video.

DeAngelis then loaded the photos and a description of the case on Rhode Island's Most Wanted. 

Also Monday, Ptlm. Adam Parkinson went to 22 Rollingwood Drive to investigate another case of apparent car theft.

Parkinson wrote that he found "a sizeable rock" thrown through the passenger's window of Karen Casamassina's car.

Casamassina said that a prescription bottle and a bag holding $3,000 in jewelry had been taken from her car, Parkinson noted.

If caught, the suspect faces one felony and one misdemeanor larceny charge.

If you have information on this case, call the Johnston Police Department at (401) 231-8100.