Crime & Safety

Alleged Beef Thief Arrested by Cranston Police

Will serve one month in prison, 11 months suspended.

Michael J. Cocroft, wanted in connection with theft of hundreds of dollars of Red Bull and meat from a Warwick Stop and Shop, was arrested by Cranston Police on Friday.

Cocroft, 44, has last known addresses in South Kingstown and Cranston and was also wanted out of South Kingstown on an outstanding warrant.

Warwick Police were searching for Cocroft for his theft of multiple cuts of beef and Red Bull from the Quaker Lane Stop and Shop on Jan. 19.

The vehicle in which he left the scene — a white work van — is possibly connected to other crimes in Warwick and surrounding communities, police said.

Cocroft was arraigned in Third Division District Court on Thursday and pleaded no contest to a charge of misdemeanor shoplifting.

He was sentenced by Judge William C. Clifton to one year at the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston with one month to serve and 11 months suspended. He was also sentenced to 11 months of probation and ordered to pay restitution.


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