Second Arrest Made in Wave of Vehicle Thefts

Portsmouth police say a second Fall River, MA, man is now in custody in connection with a wave of vehicle thefts that struck the community last month. 

Paul LaFrance, 21, of Fall River, was arrested Tuesday in Massachusetts and faces charges in connection with the Portsmouth vehicle thefts.

He is currently being held in Fall River, where he faces additional robbery charges. According to WPRI 12, LaFrance was one of Fall River's "Most Wanted" suspects.

LaFrance allegedly once robbed a woman by holding a syringe to her neck and claiming it had the AIDS virus. 

Steven Couto, 20, also of Fall River, was also arrested earlier this month as a "fugitive from justice." 

Couto was arrested in Fall River after police issued a warrant for his arrest on charges of four counts of larceny over $1,500 in connection with the thefts. 

A total of six vehicles were reported stolen from Sept. 14 to 20. 

The vehicles were taken during the overnight hours from McIntosh Drive, Quail Road, Ash Street, Galley Lane, Stage Coach Road and Harbor View Road. The stolen vehicles were all unlocked at the time with the keys left inside the vehicle.