Burglars broke into at least eight businesses in Schoharie, Cobleskill, Middleburgh and Princetown taking more than $11,000 in merchandise and cash.
The State Police are looking into a series of recent burglaries just after Thanksgiving at six stone and quarry businesses as well as Lenny's Tire in Middleburgh and TAS Sales and Service in Cobleskill.
The burglaries at the quarries and Lenny's were similar, police said. All involved break-ins on the weekend after Thanksgiving in which money was taken from a cash drawer or safe.
Snow blowers, a mower and a generator were stolen from TAS last week.
Five of the burglaries at the stone quarries were reported on the morning of Friday, November 23. The thefts, police said, apparently took place on Thanksgiving or in the early morning hours of November 23.
Burglaries were reported at the following businesses: Carver Stone in Princetown, Cobleskill Stone in the Village of Schoharie, Howes Cave Stone and Quarry in the Town of Schoharie, Cranesville Stone and Cobleskill Stone, both off Barnerville Road in the Town of Cobleskill, said Investigator Bob Carter of the Princetown State Police.
There were pry marks on doors at three of the businesses, Investigator Carter said, and cash was taken from a money drawer at each of the businesses.
In all, about $1,545 was taken from the businesses, he said.
Police assume that the same person or persons committed the burglaries because the crimes were so similar.
Two more burglaries were reported two days later on Monday, November 26.
Someone broke into Carver Sand and Gravel and Lenny's Tire, both on Route 30 in Middleburgh, sometime overnight, police said.
The burglars stole $256 from the scale office and $300 from the dispatchers at Carver's, Investigator Carter said.
The break-in was slightly different at Lenny's, police said.
There were no signs of forced entry at Lenny's, police said, but someone pried open a safe and took $4,000.
Police said they were not sure if the theft at Lenny's was connected with the others.
The most recent burglary was reported at TAS, police said.
More than $5,000 in snow blowers, a mower and other equipment were stolen from TAS Sales and Service on Route 7 in Cobleskill in the early morning hours of Tuesday, November 27, said Cobleskill State Police Investigator Steve Koveleskie.
Someone cut a lock to gain entry into a fenced-lot at TAS and stole four new Toro snow blowers, one new Toro riding mower, two used snow blowers and one used generator, police said.
The burglary could be linked to prior ones on Route 7, police said.
Anyone with any information about any of the burglaries is urged to call police at 234-9400 or 234-9401.