LINCOLN – Lincoln police officers have arrested a repeat offender with a long history of stealing from others.
Police said David Paiva, 55, of Cumberland, was arrested after a series of reported thefts of vehicles and break-ins from motor vehicles.
They arrested him early on Oct. 27, charging him with two felony larceny counts, two misdemeanor larceny charges, and two attempted larceny charges.
The charges stem from several October incidents in which Paiva is accused of stealing a vehicle, entering unlocked vehicles, and taking multiple items from them.
Following his arrest, he was transported to the Kent County Courthouse for arraignment. He was held on surety bail in connection with open cases from other jurisdictions in Superior Court.
Lincoln police are reminding residents to remain vigilant, remove valuables from their vehicles, and lock vehicle doors. Residents are also encouraged to report suspicious activities to police.
“Lincoln Police appreciate the cooperation and assistance of the community members whose information and evidence played an important role in this investigation,” they stated.
It wasn’t immediately clear how long Paiva has been out of prison after his crime spree in Cumberland back in 2019.
The career criminal was sentenced to his most serious prison sentence in the summer of 2019 after various similar crimes in Cumberland other surrounding communities.
He pleaded no contest to charges and was to be sentenced to 12 years, with eight to serve. He was also ordered to enter a residential substance abuse program at the time.
Paiva had no known address in 2019. He had committed many of his most recent crimes in the Monastery Heights neighborhood of Cumberland, and police were able to identify him as the perpetrator using footage from a home at the corner of Alaska Street and New York Avenue.
He had previously been charged more than 70 times with various crimes starting in 1989, including other cases of breaking and entering, as well as domestic assault, fraud, and possession of stolen goods and others. He was previously sentenced 16 times over the years.
