Ferrari stolen in R.I. home invasion recovered in Florida

A Ferrari that was stolen in what police say was a targeted home invasion in Cranston, Rhode Island, has been recovered in Florida, authorities announced. 

Cranston police said officers responded on Saturday to the report of the home invasion around 3:20 a.m. on Crest Drive. The residents of the home told officers that two masked men armed with handguns got into the house through an unlocked door and demanded the keys to a 2018 Ferrari Spider convertible that was parked in the garage. 

“It was clear that the suspects had intimate knowledge about the residence and the vehicles they were seeking. … It was clear from the onset that this was not a random act, as the suspects target the victims and specific vehicles,” police said. 

Once the keys were handed over, the men left in the Ferrari. Police said the vehicle was spotted in Cranston the next day, but when officers responded they were unable to locate it. 

The two suspects, one of whom had been previously inside the home and knew where the car keys were, were identified during the course of the investigation as Jonathan Costa, 20, of Cranston and Logan Slezak, 18, of Pawtucket, police said. 

On Sunday, a Rhode Island State Trooper spotted the Ferrari and attempted to stop it, but the driver led officers in a high speed chase through Rhode Island and Connecticut, eventually losing pursuing law enforcement, police said. The car was later spotted in New York, but once again, police said the suspects evaded state troopers. 

Arrest warrants were issued for Costa and Slezak on charges of breaking and entering with felony intent, using a firearm while committing a crime of violence, and conspiracy. 

Police said on Tuesday evening that the Ferrari was recently recovered in Flagler County Florida when a license plate reader alerted the sheriff’s department to the stolen vehicle. Another high speed chase took place, but a helicopter air unit tracked the vehicle and police eventually located the car hidden under a tarp outside a local residence. 

At the scene, Costa was taken into custody. Slezak remained at large as of Tuesday evening, according to police. 

In a statement, Cranston Major Todd Patalano said the department was working to arrest Slezak. 

“This was a difficult case in order to apprehend the suspects because of their reckless disregard and dangerous high speeds over 130 mph to evade capture, pulling all law enforcement and the innocent motoring public at risk, along with being armed and dangerous,” he said.