A Westbrook and Windham man are being held on suspicion of a rash of motor vehicle burglaries.

According to Westbrook police Capt. Michael Nugent, Westbrook police were alerted to a suspicious incident by a Westbrook plow driver at about 4 a.m., Sunday, Feb. 15. Officers found footprints leading to cars parked in a number of driveways and followed the footprints to an Everett Court residence where they found 20-year-old Kevin Grescoviak of Westbrook and 20-year-old Paolo Patriotti of Windham. Patriotti had an active arrest warrant and was in violation of his conditions of release from an earlier arrest. At about the same time, officers responded to a reported motor vehicle burglary on Woodmont Street and were able to link both Grescoviak and Patriotti to the scene, Nugent said.

At about 7 a.m. Sunday, officers executed a search warrant at the Everett Court residence and discovered items that are suspected to have been stolen in recent area motor vehicle burglaries. Among the recovered items were cell phones, GPS receivers, laptop computers and power tools as well as gift cards and bank cards, Nugent said.

Grescoviak and Patriotti were both arrested on four counts of burglary to a motor vehicle, four counts of theft by unauthorized taking and one count of stealing drugs. Patriotti was also arrested on the warrant and for violation of conditional release. Due to the number of his previous theft convictions, Patriotti’s theft charges are felonies, Nugent said.

The investigation continues and may result in additional charges, Nugent said. A number of area residents have been victims of motor vehicle burglaries including residents on Myrtle Street, Lyman Street, Falmouth Street, Lowell Street, Cumberland Street, Bridge Street, Woodmont Street, Beechwood Avenue, and Everett Court.

Residents who have been the victims of recent motor vehicle burglaries are urged to contact the Westbrook Police Department at 854-0644. Nugent also urges everyone to always lock their vehicles and not leave valuables in sight.

(This story has been updated to correct an error.)

Kevin GrescoviakPaolo Pattriotti