Newport Police Warn Residents to Lock Their Cars After Reports about Thefts

NEWPORT, RI — Police early Wednesday morning arrested a Newport man and charged him with receiving stolen goods.

Ryan M. Dennis, 23, of Newport, was "in possession" of items reported stolen from cars parked in the area around Spring and Young streets, police said.

Officers spotted him walking on Spring Street near Holland around 4:36 a.m. He was allegedly carrying a set of white head phones in his left hand and holding a cigarette in his right hand.

Looking for possible car breaks, the officers drove around the block to Thames Street and came back up Holland. They noticed an Sport Utility Vehicle with the rear hatch open. Police stopped Dennis and questioned him. They allege he admitted taking the head phones but not from the SUV on Holland. They also allege they found a pill in his wallet. The pill is a generic for clonazepam. He was charged with felony drug possession, police said.

The night before, residents in the Historic Hill area reported someone trying unsuccessfully to enter their locked car during the early morning. They captured the suspect on surveillance tape and notified police.

Police are asking residents to lock their vehicles, not to leave valuable items and to notify police if they see suspicious activity.