Lino Loyola

Tiverton Police have charged a Middletown man with breaking into the waterfront Boat House restaurant on Schooner Drive and stealing cash and liquor.

On Thursday, February 28, officers responded to a break-in report and found that the restaurant’s safe along with a number of bottles of liquor had been taken. That safe was said to contain a significant amount of cash.

Working from footage captured by the restaurant’s video surveillance cameras, Tiverton detectives were able to capture a still photo of the break-in suspect.

They posted that picture on-line and, say police, received tips within a few minutes that the man they were seeking was Lino Loyola, 55, of Middletown.

Tiverton, Middletown and Portsmouth police (which is investigating a waterfront restaurant break-in of its own on Point Road), onbtained search warrants for Mr. Loyola and for his Middletown residence.

When they searched his home, police said they discovered items taken from the Boathouse along with evidence connecting him to the break-in.

Tiverton police charged Mr. Loyola with vandalism and breaking and entering into a business. He was released on bail after his arraignment.

Police said that citizens’ tips and assistance were especially helpful in helping them identify and arrest the suspect and recover stolen items.