Two Schoharie County men made off with an Arizona iced tea, some change and lottery tickets from two Richmondville businesses before being arrested the next day, according to police
Warren M. Stuber, 18, of Cobleskill and Alexander W. Hodge, 24, of Sloansville were arrested on January 22 after allegedly breaking into Taylor's Mini Mart and Shirley's Stoney Creek overnight on January 20. Both businesses are on Route 7 in Richmondville.
Both were arrested on charges of third-degree burglary, a felony, Trooper Mark Cepiel said Friday afternoon.
On January 21, the owner of Shirley's Stoney Creek called police and reported a break-in to her business sometime overnight, according to Trooper Cepiel.
Troopers responded and found that a sliding glass window showed signs of damage. Taken from the shop were an Arizona iced tea and about $50 in change from the cash register, police said.
Troopers also responded to Taylor's at 12:32am on January 21 after the store's alarm company alerted county 911 dispatchers.
Upon arriving at the scene, State Police found that a front glass window had been broken and there was glass everywhere, reported Trooper Cepiel.
Thieves had gotten off with 33 Frosty Fun Dollars and several other lottery tickets along with a pack of Newport cigarettes, he added.
Later during the day on January 21, two men attempted to cash in several lottery tickets that had been reported stolen at Price Chopper in Cobleskill, Trooper Cepiel added. The grocery store did not cash them and called the police.
Troopers responded to Price Chopper and located the two men walking on East Main Street in Cobleskill.
The men were questioned and tied to the burglaries from statements from witnesses who saw two people walking on Route 7 in Richmondville after the burglaries, police said. The two men fit the descriptions of the men.
Mr. Stuber was arraigned in Richmondville town court and sent to jail in lieu of $5,000 bail or $10,000 bond and Mr. Hodge was arraigned and sent to jail in lieu of $7,500 bail or $15,000 bond, according to Trooper Cepiel.
The difference in bail was due to Mr. Hodge having an outstanding warrant in Cobleskill stemming from an arrest in April 2016, police added.
They are to return to court at a later date.