Police in Upstate New York have made an arrest in the 2024 case of a larceny at a local Burlington Coat Factory. 

According to Police Chief Ron Fontaine of the New Hartford Police Department, on December 11th, 2024 at 10:00 pm his department responded to The Burlington Coat Factory located in Consumer Square, after a report of an larceny in progress. While in route to the call, Officers received updates from The Oneida County 911 Center indicating that the suspect was outside of the store punching an employee. Upon arrival, Officers learned that the suspect had fled the scene, abandoning the clothing that he was stealing. Officers were provided with a description to aid in their search. Despite efforts to locate the suspect in the surrounding area, officers were unable to locate him. Officers collected statements from store employees, including employees who attempted to intervene in the theft. Officers also secured video footage from surveillance systems in the area and processed the scene for further evidence. Fortunately, the employee who confronted the larceny suspect sustained only minor injuries. Initial identification of the suspect proved difficult but leads were developed to further the investigation.

This week. on January 14, 2025, New Hartford Police responded to an unrelated in-progress larceny, this time occurring at Walmart. During this response, they successfully located and arrested the suspect and were able to connect him to the December case at the Burlington Coat Factory. This subject was identified as 45-year-old Edward Hector,  of Rome, N.Y.. Hector was charged with one count of Petit Larceny - in violation on NYS PL 155.25, a Class A Misdemeanor. Through further investigative efforts by Police, Hector was also able to be charged with the following in connection with the December 11th, 2024 Incident.

1) One count of PL-160.05 - Robbery In The 3rd Degree, a Class D Felony.

2) One count of PL 120.19 - Assault on a Retail Worker, a Class E Felony.

Hector was processed at the New Hartford Police Department and then transported to the Oneida County Centralized Arraignment Court, where he was subsequently arraigned and then remanded to the Oneida County Jail, pending a felony hearing.

[AUTHOR'S NOTE:   This post is for informational purposes and is based largely on information received from the New Hartford Police. Regardless of any statements or photographs regarding potential evidence presented or accusations alleged, the reader is reminded that all suspects and/or arrested persons are innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. At the time of this posting no additional information is available.]

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