These reports come from the East Greenwich Police Department and are public information. An arrest does not mean the individual has been convicted of a crime. EG News does not identify those arrested for misdemeanor charges.

On Wednesday, Jan. 28, police arrested Michael Smith, 20, of Cranston, for breaking and entering and larceny over $1,500, both felonies, and Eduardo Lopez, 22, of Providence, for two felony counts of conspiracy, after Smith and another man allegedly broke into a doctor’s office on South County Trail with help from Lopez.

Police learned of Smith after one of the stolen computers was “pinged” on a street in Cranston. EG detectives knew that Smith lived on that street due to a prior investigation, according to Detective Sgt. Jon Chirnside. With assistance from Cranston detectives, EG detectives were able to interview Smith at his house. Most of the stolen goods were recovered as a result of this interview, said Chirnside.

In the report, Smith told police Lopez told him 10 days earlier that he had an easy way to make $5,000-$10,000 in 30 minutes. Lopez’s mother owned a cleaning business and Lopez would help her clean a doctor’s office on South County Trail on Friday nights and that he knew the passcode to get into the office. Smith said they did a trial run first so Smith would get the layout. Lopez said he would get another guy to do the job with Smith, so it wouldn’t trace back to Lopez’s mother.

Smith and the other man – still at large – arranged to do the job on Saturday, Jan. 24. Smith drove them to East Greenwich and they parked down the street a bit from the doctor’s office. Using the passcode, they gained entrance to the office and started collecting all the Apple computer equipment and piling it at the back door. They also took all the medications and placed them in a backpack. Smith brought the car around to the back, they loaded everything into the car and drove to his house in Cranston, where they put everything in his cellar.

The next day, Smith met up with Lopez. They took an iPad and a computer to show possible buyers.

According to the report, Lopez came into the station at around 8:30 p.m. He’d been called to meet with a detective because of his involvement with the cleaning business but now they had the information from Smith of his involvement. After hearing what Smith had told police, Lopez told them it had been his idea and his story matched Smith’s, adding his offer to the first Providence man to take all the computer equipment for $5,000 was rejected and that he traded the iPad to another guy for some future tattoos.

Police matched alarm company records with the stories from both men. An affidavit and arrest warrant were issued for the third man.

Smith and Lopez were arraigned in 3rd District Court, pleading not guilty. Smith, who was serving probation on an earlier Superior Court sentence, was also charged with violating his probation. They’re scheduled to appear for felony screening in March 9, at which point their cases will move to Superior Court. Both were released on bail.

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