Warwick police have released an image of a person they say is connected to a fishing-gear shoplifting incident at a Dick's Sporting Goods store in the city, and they're asking the public for help putting a name to the face. Investigators say the store has been targeted by alleged shoplifters before.
According to WJAR, police said the incident involved alleged shoplifting of fishing gear from the store and released an image in connection with the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to reach out to Detective Arico at [email protected].
A Store With a Pattern of Trouble
This isn't the first time police have turned to the public for help identifying people tied to thefts at a Dick's Sporting Goods store in Warwick. In July 2026, police released two images showing a total of five individuals linked to multiple thefts from the store, the same report notes. Then in September, two people were accused of leaving a Dick's Sporting Goods with several pairs of footwear without paying, per the station's reporting.
Back in January, a separate incident at the Dick's Sporting Goods on Bald Hill Road prompted detectives to release photographs of a man they were trying to identify, according to Newport Dispatch. It remains unclear whether any of these earlier cases are connected to the fishing-gear incident.
Shoplifting Numbers Climbing Citywide
The fishing-gear case lands against a backdrop of rising shoplifting reports across Warwick. A 2023 Warwick Police Department report recorded 388 shoplifting cases, an 8% increase from the prior year, according to Rhode Island Current. Warwick Police Chief Bradford Connor has described organized retail theft as “a true concern of ours” that “exists at a pretty steady rate,” the outlet reported.
Providence has seen an even sharper spike, with 365 reported shoplifting offenses in 2024, representing a 52% increase from the year before, per the same outlet's reporting. Separately, a Warwick case at Walmart in August 2026 involved multiple alleged shoplifting incidents totaling more than $1,300, according to Newport Dispatch.
What Happens Next
Warwick police are asking for help identifying the person connected to the fishing-gear theft. Residents who recognize the individual in the released image are urged to contact Detective Arico directly so investigators can move the case forward.
