Local News

Grinch-clad alleged fraudster arrested in West Bridgewater

A man who was arrested Sunday for driving a stolen vehicle was identified thanks to footage in which he was wearing Grinch pajamas.

Elvis Andrade, 32, of Brocktonm is facing charges including larceny and breaking and entering into multiple vehicles. Stoughton Police Department

By Madeleine Aitken

December 30, 2024

2 minutes to read

A man who was arrested in West Bridgewater early Sunday morning for driving a stolen vehicle was identified thanks to surveillance footage in which he was reportedly using a stolen credit card — while wearing Grinch pajamas.

West Bridgewater Police Officer Brian Smith, Jr. spotted Elvis Andrade, 32, of Brockton, driving a stolen vehicle on Sunday at approximately 1:53 a.m.

The Stoughton Police Department had previously obtained an arrest warrant for Andrade, charging him with a slate of charges including larceny over $1,200 and four counts of larceny under $1,200, improper use of a credit card over $1,200 and two counts of improper use of a credit card under $1,200, malicious destruction of property under $1,200, receiving a stolen motor vehicle, and eight counts of breaking and entering a vehicle during the daytime to a commit a felony, according to a Stoughton Police release.

The warrant was the result of an investigation by the department into a series of motor vehicle break-ins and thefts, plus credit card fraud, that it linked to Andrade.

It started with a vehicle theft on Dec. 1, followed by a vehicle break-in and credit card fraud on Dec. 4 at an apartment complex on Buckley Road.

“A resident reported that their wallet was stolen and that their debit card was used at a CVS,” police wrote in the release.

The next week, on Dec. 11, police responded to the complex around 10:43 a.m. after a report that a vehicle had been broken into overnight. Later that day, another resident reported that their car was broken into and their wallet was stolen, with their debit card used at CVS and Speedway in Brockton.

There was another vehicle theft on Dec. 9, and Andrade was already a suspect in a vehicle theft and credit card fraud at a Walmart in Avon from earlier in the month.

When Andrade was arrested on Sunday, he received additional charges: possession of a burglarious instrument, receiving stolen property under $1,200, motor vehicle operator refusing to identify self, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, number plate violation to conceal ID, and refusing to identify self.

“The driver repeatedly refused to provide his real identity, but through their investigation, police were able to identify him as [Andrade],” West Bridgewater Police wrote in a post on its Facebook page. “During a search, police located a screwdriver and several items and paperwork in various people’s names, including passports, debit and credit cards, and IDs.”

Andrade is expected to be arraigned Monday in Brockton District Court.