Burglary Suspects Seize on Hurricane Sandy for Crime
By: Eric Deabill
Updated: October 31, 2012
Scranton, Lackawanna County - Several people are in custody, accused of using Hurricane Sandy to their advantage to break into a business.
Scranton police say some of the suspects were caught in the act when they got greedy.
Investigators are now in an unusual situation.
After searching a home used by the suspects, investigators say they found so many stolen items, they don't know where all of the things came from.
The roll call room inside Scranton Police Headquarters was full with computers, GPS systems and software Wednesday morning.
Cops say all of the items, nearly $50,000 worth, were stolen from the Staples store near the Viewmont Mall Monday night into Tuesday morning during Hurricane Sandy.
Investigators say they seized on the storm.
"They used the storm to their advantage knowing that the police were probably going to be tied up more so and that alarms may be attributed to the storm," Chief Carl Graziano said.
Three suspects now face charges: Gilbert Ortiz, Gregory Mitchell and Stephanie Johnson.
Before breaking into Staples, investigators say the suspects tested the alarm during the storm. When the alarm company didn't call police, they knew they had time on their hands.
That luck ran out when the suspects tried to break into the nearby Best Buy store. That alarm company did call police.
"99-percent of the time these (calls) will be false alarms but somewhere there's gotta be that one-percent and here's that one-percent," Chief Graziano said.
After searching a home on North Sumner Avenue, there is now a problem.
Cops say they found stolen goods, including tires and car parts, that they don't know where they came from.
Workers at Matt Burne Honda think nearly 30 tires were stolen from them in August.
"When somebody takes a tire like this, between the tire, the wheel and the attachments that go with it, you're looking at upwards of $1,000 per tire," employee Brian Walsh said.
A fourth suspect is expected to be charged later this week.
Police say all three of the suspects currently facing charges are also deaf.
Scranton police say some of the suspects were caught in the act when they got greedy.
Investigators are now in an unusual situation.
After searching a home used by the suspects, investigators say they found so many stolen items, they don't know where all of the things came from.
The roll call room inside Scranton Police Headquarters was full with computers, GPS systems and software Wednesday morning.
Cops say all of the items, nearly $50,000 worth, were stolen from the Staples store near the Viewmont Mall Monday night into Tuesday morning during Hurricane Sandy.
Investigators say they seized on the storm.
"They used the storm to their advantage knowing that the police were probably going to be tied up more so and that alarms may be attributed to the storm," Chief Carl Graziano said.
Three suspects now face charges: Gilbert Ortiz, Gregory Mitchell and Stephanie Johnson.
Before breaking into Staples, investigators say the suspects tested the alarm during the storm. When the alarm company didn't call police, they knew they had time on their hands.
That luck ran out when the suspects tried to break into the nearby Best Buy store. That alarm company did call police.
"99-percent of the time these (calls) will be false alarms but somewhere there's gotta be that one-percent and here's that one-percent," Chief Graziano said.
After searching a home on North Sumner Avenue, there is now a problem.
Cops say they found stolen goods, including tires and car parts, that they don't know where they came from.
Workers at Matt Burne Honda think nearly 30 tires were stolen from them in August.
"When somebody takes a tire like this, between the tire, the wheel and the attachments that go with it, you're looking at upwards of $1,000 per tire," employee Brian Walsh said.
A fourth suspect is expected to be charged later this week.
Police say all three of the suspects currently facing charges are also deaf.
