Man Accused of Repeatedly Stealing and Returning Elderly Woman's Car and Wallet to Withdraw Cash is Arrested

WOONSOCKET, RI — A man sought for breaking into an elderly woman's house on multiple occasions as she slept to steal her wallet, keys and car and go on spending sprees — before returning everything as she continued to sleep — is now in police custody.

Nicholas Clement, 26, of no permanent address and with previous addresses in Woonsocket and Tiverton, was arrested in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, on unrelated charges and is now awaiting extradition back to Rhode Island.

Police said the elderly victim in July reported that her debit and credit card was used several times at locations she never went, yet her cards were still in her possession.

During the investigation, Woonsocket detectives realized Clement had broken into the victim's house on several occasions when she was asleep. He would then take her keys and wallet, drive her car to various cash machines in the area of Kennedy Plaza in Providence to withdraw money, and then return to put everything back in place.

Police identified Clement after releasing photos taken from ATM machines showing him wearing a backpack as he took cash. Detectives said he is currently homeless and known to ride a white mountain bike in the Woonsocket area.

Woonsocket police thanked officers from Warwick and the Bristol County Sherrif's Office for help in the case.