NORWICH – Two parolees were arrested after going door to door with a fake political petition and then entering a home when no one answered the door, police say.
Norwich City Police said after the two men entered the home, they were confronted by the home’s owner.
“We believe from what we found on them, they were going door to door in the neighborhood under the guise of having political petitions signed. At this particular house, when no one answered the door, they entered the house,” said Norwich Police Chief Joseph Angelino.
Police charged 23-year-old Daniel Sabines of Bradley Hill Road, Oxford and Anthony J. Pierce, 21, of Bloomfield Road, Richfield Springs, with second degree burglary, a C class felony, and attempted larceny.
According to the New York State Division of Parole, both men were recently released from prison on previous burglary charges less than two months ago. Sabines was released on June 1 and Pierce was released on July 2.
The incident occurred Monday afternoon at around 12:40 p.m. at a residence on Beebe Ave. Police said the men had approached other homes in the area with their petition before entering the victim’s house.
“The home owner was in the house at the time and chased both subjects from the dwelling,” said Angelino. “We had plenty of witnesses because at more than one house, the residents answered or saw the defendants on the sidewalk.”
Police developed descriptions of the men and located the suspects a short time later.
The PD is requesting that anyone who may have encountered these two, because of a knock at their door, to call police detectives at 336-8477 (336-TIPS).
“We know they were in the area of Conkey Ave., Francis Ave., South Broad St. and Beebe Ave.,” said Angelino.
Sabines and Pierce were arraigned in City of Norwich Court and remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility in lieu of $20,000 cash bail. They are scheduled to reappear in city court for their felony hearings Thursday.