Alleged Locker Room Thief Caught: Newport Police

NEWPORT, RI — John Root, 40, of Fall River, Mass., was in Newport District Court on March 2 to face a 2015 credit card fraud charge. Newport police had obtained a warrant for his arrest for that crime and for conspiracy. When he turned up at the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston last Friday, prison officials called the local police and he was arraigned in Second District Court.

According to police, Root asked his associates to drive him around to gyms and health clubs where he went into the locker rooms and rifled through patrons' pockets. He allegedly stole a credit card at the Newport Athletic Club and used it to buy merchandise at the Connell Highway Walmart. Police allege he bought a Dell laptop worth $400, a Samsung prepaid cellphone, worth $480, and a Straight Talk Wireless card, worth $45.

Both charges are felonies, police said.