Suspect caught in Boston car theft

Nia Brown

September 25, 2016

BOSTON Car thief strikes again! An East Boston man has been arrested in connection
with a stolen car last Thursday.
Michael Yanelli, 22, of 569 Bennington St. was arrested Saturday for the theft of a 1979
Cadillac. Police said Yanelli confessed to stealing the car and spending most of the
$10,000 cash he found in the glove compartment.
The car belonged to Rene Gignac of Laconia, New Hampshire. It was parked at 880
Saratoga St., four blocks from Yanellis home. The Cadillac was discovered missing at
11:45 a.m. on Thursday morning. Along with the cash, police said that the car contained a
briefcase, papers, a wallet and $30,000 in checks.
According to residents of Brandywine Village, Gignac was helping his mother-in-law
move and planned to use the money for a down payment on her new residence.
Yanellis neighbors alerted the local police department when he began flashing money
around the neighborhood.
I love flashing 100s around, Yanelli said.
At the time of his arrest, Yanelli turned over $2,682 in cash and two plane tickets to Las
Vegas, amounting in $1,972. Police said the checks were destroyed. The remainder of the
$10,000 was spent on lavish meals, clothing and gifts for friends and family.
I spent it on true friends, Yanelli said.
When asked about the theft Yanelli responded, I got to learn my lesson sooner or later. I
got to serve time so I dont do this anymore. In response to the large amount of money
left in the car, he added, "tell people to leave their cars locked up and dont leave $10,000
in the car where anybody can get it.
This is Yanellis fourth larceny of a motor vehicle charge, all in the surrounding Boston
area.
He is currently being held at the Charles Street Jail and will be arraigned in the East
Boston District Court tomorrow morning.
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