York police seek 'thrill-seeking' car thief spanning multiple towns: Public's help wanted
YORK, Maine — Authorities are searching for a suspect accused of stealing several vehicles on a spree one local police chief described as “thrill-seeking” behavior.
York police and other area departments are looking for Anthony Bizzocchi, 44, formerly of Eliot, Maine. Police have filed for a warrant for his arrest for theft of a motor vehicle.
Authorities described a trail of cars they allege Bizzocchi stole and abandoned from Wells to York, Kittery and North Hampton, New Hampshire.
York police Detective Sgt. Thomas Cryan said police are asking the public to be on the lookout for a silver Honda HRV with the license plate ME PC 3614YH, a vehicle believed to have been stolen Tuesday by Bizzocchi. He said Bizzocchi is not known to be violent, but advised residents to lock their cars.
“Lock your cars. Don’t leave your keys in it,” Cryan said.
York police said they responded Tuesday, April 9, to 1400 US Route 1 for a report of a stolen motor vehicle. Police said the victim told officers that her Silver 2020 Honda HRV had been stolen.
Shortly after, Cryan said, police located another vehicle parked in the same area that was reported stolen to the Wells Police Department.
While investigating the case, York officers were notified by North Hampton, New Hampshire police they recovered a 2002 Toyota Rav4 stolen from an auto shop in York.
North Hampton Police Chief Robert LaBarge said the vehicle was found at 7 North Road in his town at 7:52 a.m.
LaBarge said Bizzocchi is alleged to have stolen cars last week in Stratham, Greenland and Portsmouth. He said Bizzocchi seems to be driving stolen vehicles from one location to another, abandoning them and then stealing a vehicle nearby.
“It seems to be more of a thrill-seeking,” LaBarge said. “That’s the way it appears at first blush.”
Police continued to find vehicles after the car in North Hampton was located.
When officers arrived at the York auto body shop, York police said they found a stolen 2014 Chrysler 200 reported stolen to Kittery police. Detective Ryan Sanford of Kittery police identified Bizzocchi as the suspect in the multi-agency investigation.
Bizzocchi previously pleaded guilty to one count of theft by unauthorized taking in 2022 for stealing a vehicle and abandoning it on Interstate 95 in Hampton Falls. He received a suspended one to three years prison sentence dependent on good behavior.
Anyone with information is asked by police to contact Cryan at the York Police Department at (207) 363-4444. Tips can be reported anonymously to Seacoast Crime Stoppers at (603) 431-1199, texting 274637 (CRIMES), at seacoastcrimestoppers.com or via its Facebook page.