Sheriff: Norwich man stole nearly $10K of tobacco products during smash and grabs
On Aug. 7, the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office arrested a suspect on charges related to the burglaries of two Chenango County gas stations in October 2022. (Photo by Lilli Iannella)
NORWICH– Following an almost year-long investigation into the burglary of two Chenango County gas stations in October 2022, the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office arrested the suspect, who they found to have stolen almost $10,000 worth of tobacco products.
Robert E. Colson, 52, of Norwich, was charged with two counts of third-degree burglary, two counts of third-degree criminal mischief, fourth-degree criminal mischief, third-degree grand larceny and fourth-degree grand larceny.
On Aug. 7, Colson was arrested on the felony-level indictment charges related to the burglaries while he was incarcerated at the Chenango County Correctional Facility on separate charges related to the burglary of A&R Smoke Shop in the City of Norwich in April, said Detective Sgt. Chad O’Hara of the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office.
Colson was arraigned in Chenango County Court and remanded back to the Chenango County Correctional Facility. He is also scheduled to appear in court at a later date.
O’Hara said each burglary at the gas stations was a “smash and grab,” where the suspect smashed out either the front door, window or main entrance of the businesses and stole tobacco products including cigarettes, chewing tobacco and vapes.
The gas stations were in the Village of Earlville and Town of Otselic, O’Hara said. Colson stole over $3,000 at one of the stores and close to $6,000 at the other store, he said.
At the time of the report, O’Hara said the total damage to each gas station was approximately $1,000. He said it is possible that the amounted total could be more than what was reported.
One of the gas stations shut down for a period of time while the investigation took place, O’Hara said, and the other gas station had to close for one day.
In a press release posted by the sheriff’s office on Friday, Sheriff Ernest R. Cutting Jr. said “the attention to detail by the Sheriff's Office Road Patrol, Detectives and Evidence Technicians played a huge factor in solving these cases.”
The sheriff's office was also assisted by the New York State Police Crime Lab, the press release said.
O’Hara said the sheriff’s office turned over evidence from both cases to the Chenango County District Attorney’s Office, where a sealed indictment was presented to the Chenango County Grand Jury. Colson was then indicted on his charges related to the gas station burglaries, O’Hara said.
Afterward, the cases were passed to the Chenango County Court, and a judge issued a warrant for arrest on the burglary charges, O’Hara said.
Given it took almost a year to conclude the investigation, O’Hara said officials made sure to gather everything they needed to move forward with the arrest.
“It was another case that as quick as the victims wanted us to arrest the person, we wanted to make sure that we stepped forward with our best foot and had all the evidence that we could present at that point in time,” O’Hara said.
Robert E. Colson, 52, of Norwich, was charged with two counts of third-degree burglary, two counts of third-degree criminal mischief, fourth-degree criminal mischief, third-degree grand larceny and fourth-degree grand larceny.
On Aug. 7, Colson was arrested on the felony-level indictment charges related to the burglaries while he was incarcerated at the Chenango County Correctional Facility on separate charges related to the burglary of A&R Smoke Shop in the City of Norwich in April, said Detective Sgt. Chad O’Hara of the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office.
Colson was arraigned in Chenango County Court and remanded back to the Chenango County Correctional Facility. He is also scheduled to appear in court at a later date.
O’Hara said each burglary at the gas stations was a “smash and grab,” where the suspect smashed out either the front door, window or main entrance of the businesses and stole tobacco products including cigarettes, chewing tobacco and vapes.
The gas stations were in the Village of Earlville and Town of Otselic, O’Hara said. Colson stole over $3,000 at one of the stores and close to $6,000 at the other store, he said.
At the time of the report, O’Hara said the total damage to each gas station was approximately $1,000. He said it is possible that the amounted total could be more than what was reported.
One of the gas stations shut down for a period of time while the investigation took place, O’Hara said, and the other gas station had to close for one day.
In a press release posted by the sheriff’s office on Friday, Sheriff Ernest R. Cutting Jr. said “the attention to detail by the Sheriff's Office Road Patrol, Detectives and Evidence Technicians played a huge factor in solving these cases.”
The sheriff's office was also assisted by the New York State Police Crime Lab, the press release said.
O’Hara said the sheriff’s office turned over evidence from both cases to the Chenango County District Attorney’s Office, where a sealed indictment was presented to the Chenango County Grand Jury. Colson was then indicted on his charges related to the gas station burglaries, O’Hara said.
Afterward, the cases were passed to the Chenango County Court, and a judge issued a warrant for arrest on the burglary charges, O’Hara said.
Given it took almost a year to conclude the investigation, O’Hara said officials made sure to gather everything they needed to move forward with the arrest.
“It was another case that as quick as the victims wanted us to arrest the person, we wanted to make sure that we stepped forward with our best foot and had all the evidence that we could present at that point in time,” O’Hara said.
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