Police Log: Wallet Swiper Turns It In Posing As Good Samaritan

Maybe James Peter Dionne of 154 Pond St., apt. 3FL, had an attack of conscience after he took Paul Gadoury's wallet at the Burger King on Social Street at 9:25 a.m. Oct. 20.

But when Dionne turned in the wallet at Woonsocket Police Headquarters at 11 a.m., saying he had found the wallet, he failed to mention he had found it on the counter at Burger King seconds after Gadoury put it there. Dionne also failed to mention that he had grabbed the wallet, left the restaurant and walked away quickly.

When Officer Enrique Sosa responded to the scene, Gadoury said a man matching Dionne's description had been standing behind him in line at Burger King and saw Dionne put his wallet down. Gadoury said he took his eyes off the wallet for a few seconds and then noticed the wallet wasn't there any more. The next thing he noticed was the man walking quickly away from the restaurant.

Sosa spoke with the manager of the restaurant, who said the man behind Gadoury was Dionne, a regular customer. He said he'd make video footage of the incident available to police.

At about 11 a.m., Sosa received word from Officer Matthew Bourgoin at Woonsocket Police Department Heaquarters on Clinton Street that Dionne had come to the station to turn in the wallet, stating he didn't know who it belonged to. 

Sosa brought Bourgoin up to speed, and Dionne was arrested and charged with larceny.