March 29, 2024

EP Police Arrest Rehoboth Resident as the School Bus Battery Thief

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By Bob Rodericks

The East Providence Police Department reports the arrest of Edmund Pittsley, age 38, of Providence Street, Rehoboth, MA for the larceny of bus batteries that were discovered on 10/25/17 at Ocean State Bus Lines on Commercial Way in East Providence.

Pittsley, after being contacted by police, turned himself in Thursday morning.

Late Wednesday, Lt. Raymond Blinn of the East Providence Police said that "Detectives from the EPPD have recovered all 33 batteries that had been stolen from the bus company overnight. The batteries have since been returned to the bus company. We did develop suspect info which we will be following up."

The batteries and bus vandalism occurred at a bus facility on Commercial Way in the city. One official said earlier that "this is the latest craze in New England. Vandals steal school bus batteries and sell them cheaply."

Recently Middleborough public schools had a similar incident in which school bus batteries were stolen. Portsmouth, RI and other communities throughout the region have reported the same thefts.

The batteries cost about $170 new and can fetch $15 to $20 at scrap yards. "The batteries were recovered from Berger Recycling in Pawtucket after the owner saw the noon newscast. We thank Berger Recycling for their assistance in this matter," said Lt. Blinn.

The bus vandalism caused a two-hour delay in starting school yesterday in East Providence.

The investigation is ongoing and information gathered by detectives has led to the identification of at least one other suspect. That suspect’s information is not being released at this time.

Pittsley was arraigned this afternoon in 6th District Court on the felony charges of Larceny over $1500 and Conspiracy.

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