Retired Tiverton Police Sergeant Helped Nab Little Compton House Break Suspects

Retired Sgt. Mark Pelletier saw a vehicle driving on Main Road last Wednesday that matched a "be on the lookout" description put out by the and Westport police departments in connection to recent house breaks. He pursued.

Tiverton Lt. Patrick Jones said Pelletier, who works as a reserve for Tiverton and Little Compton, saw the tan-colored sedan driving south on Main Road and called it in. Jones said Pelletier remained with the vehicle until police arrived. It was later learned that Tarisa Affonso, 20, of Fairfield Ave., Tiverton, and Brea Goyette, 20, of Mystic St., Fall River, were allegedly involved with three house break-ins in Westport and .

Jones said the two girls were turned over to Little Compton police. He said they believe the two were not involved in any house break-ins in Tiverton, but that without the work of Pelletier, they could have committed a house break in that part of town.

"Clearly, this was an exceptional job done by Sgt. Pelletier, who's still one hell of a cop in retirement," Jones said.

EastBayRI.com reported the two girls turned themselves into Westport police on Thursday, Jan. 19, and were each charged with three counts of breaking and entering, two counts of larceny over $250, and conspiracy. The three break-ins in South Westport reportedly occurred between Jan. 11 and Jan. 18, and, between both towns, the girls are accused of stealing jewelry and electronics, including an iPad and a small laptop computer. 

Affonso reportedly was wearing some of the missing jewelry when Tiverton police caught up to her. She confessed that she and Alfonso knocked on doors to see if people were home as part of their scheme. She said they would make up a fake story if someone came to the door, or break into the house if no one came. The report notes the girls they sold and pawned some items in Fall River and Swansea.