E.P. Man, 19, Charged With Auto Theft After Admitting to Crime

A young East Providence man has been charged with stealing a vehicle after admitting to the crime. 

Paul J. Leonard, 19, of Pawtucket Avenue, stole the 2012 Dodge Journey on Tuesday evening, July 30, according to the East Providence arrest report. He admitted to the theft in a written statement.

Leonard was spotted in the vehicle behind the Mansion House apartments while the parking lot was under police surveillance. He initially just searched through the unlocked vehicle’s glove box and console for items to steal and then found the key to the vehicle.

He told police that he drove the vehicle behind the apartments and abandoned it in the parking lot, fearing that he would be caught. He walked to his mother’s house on Bullocks Point Avenue about 20 minutes south after visiting with his grandfather, who lives near the apartment complex.

Leonard then decided to ride his bicycle back to the stolen vehicle, which was still under video surveillance in the parking lot. A police officer approached him there and asked him why he was seen behind the wheel of a vehicle reported stolen.

Leonard admitted at that point that he swiped the SUV from the East Providence woman, 34, who owns the Journey. He was charged with auto theft and larceny over $1,500 and given a date to appear in District Court to face the felony charge.