State Police Raid Cranston Home for Stolen Pampers

CRANSTON, RI—State police recovered 600 boxes of stolen diapers this afternoon. According to Maj. Dennis Fleming, Detective Commander for the Rhode Island State Police, said boxes of diapers – worth an estimated $24,000 – were recovered from a private home on Lawrence Street in Cranston earlier today.

They were part of a $90,000 heist of diapers that had been on their way to the Amazon Distribution Center in Fall River. Mass., when the delivery drive decided to sell them instead, police allege.

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Yesterday, 900 boxes of diapers – worth an estimated $36,000 – were seized from a storefront on Smith Street in Providence yesterday, and the driver and another suspect were charged.

• Mitchell Bettis, also known as Aubrey Bettis, 59, of Providence, was arraigned in Third District Court on charges of larceny over $1,500 and conspiracy.

Mitchell Bettis

• Damon Martin, 41, of Coventry, was charged with larceny over $1,500; receiving stolen goods; conspiracy; soliciting another to commit a crime and obstructing a police officer.

Damon Martin

Bettis had been hired by the owner of the delivery truck to drive the load of diapers from Pennsylvania to the Amazon distribution facility last week. But he instead allegedly sold the diapers.

Detectives obtained a search warrant for an empty storefront at 451 Smith St. in Providence, where they recovered 800 boxes of diapers yesterday. They later learned about the Cranston house where they found 600 more boxes.

No one was arrested at that location, the commander said.

Most of the stolen diapers were Pampers, in various sizes. Each box holds about 100 diapers and sells for about $40.

Still missing are 800 boxes of diapers – worth about $32,000. Detectives are still searching for the missing diapers. They also are continuing their search for a third suspect in the case.

Photos Courtesy RI State Police