by Bea Peterson
Before closing the Hoosick Falls Village Board meeting Tuesday evening Mayor Laura Reynolds, on advice from Police Chief Robert Whalen, suggested residents be sure to lock their homes and cars in the future. Leaving cars and homes unlocked in small towns and villages has been a way of life for generations. The Mayor lamented the fact this is no longer advisable. The following Police reports highlight the issue.
Theft Of Car Radios
Sometime during the early hours of Tuesday, December 9, two to three brazen thieves ransacked 24 unlocked cars throughout the Village of Hoosick Falls and stole cash and satellite radios from these vehicles. Two of the cars were reported to have been locked, though the police found no signs of forced entry, said Hoosick Falls Police Chief Robert Whalen. Some of the cars received minor damage. The radios were the predominant target according to Chief Whalen. In many cases “they left behind valuable stuff,” he said. One car that was entered was parked next to a squad car. Eight of the entered cars were in the well lighted senior housing complex.
Police assume the thefts began before the snow fell and continued until after 3 am. “There were footprints in the snow around some of the cars, but they were messed up by the time we arrived,” said Chief Whalen. Police are still investigating.
Felon Arrested
At 12:45 pm on Tuesday, December 9, Hoosick Falls Police Officer Ryan Ash was watching a “vehicle of interest” near Cumberland Farms. Local police were looking for a criminal who bore a resemblance to a passenger in the car. Officer Ash later stopped the vehicle when he observed the driver crossing a double yellow line. The driver, a 16 year old girl, was charged with failure to keep right, having an unsafe tire and driving after curfew. Officer Ash called for backup when Dispatch informed him there was an active violent felony outstanding warrant against one of the passengers, 28 year old Steven Emery. Emery, who said he was visiting friends in the area, is wanted by the Yonkers Police for burglary in the second degree. Yonkers Police believe Emery is also involved in gang activity. Backed up by Officer Peter Jakeo, Officer Ash brought Emery in, and the vehicle was impounded. Emery was arraigned before Judge Whalen and remanded to the Rensselaer County Jail without bail. Arrangements were made with Yonkers Violent Felony Unit to transport him to Yonkers.
Robbery Attempt
At 11 pm on December 6 Hoosick Falls Police Officers responded to a report of someone cutting metal in the vicinity of Oak Mitsui on Lyman Street. Officers found a hole cut in the fence around the plant. According to the police report, Jonathan G. Hoyt, 27, of 42 Elm St., Hoosick Falls, was spotted near the building. He was ordered to stop by Officers Jerry Geoghegan and Jeff Houghton but fled instead. After a short foot pursuit he was apprehended. The officers’ investigation determined Hoyt was attempting to steal copper and stainless steel from the plant with an approximate value of $9,000. He was arraigned before Judge Restino and charged with Criminal Trespass in the third degree, two counts, Possession of Burglary Tools and Grand Larceny in the third degree. He was remanded to the Rensselaer County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail.