Town of New Hartford NEW YORK

TOWN of NEW HARTFORD

ONEIDA COUNTY

NEW HARTFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT

32 KELLOGG ROAD, NEW HARTFORD, NEW YORK 13413-2850

 Telephone: 1-315-733-6666

Fax: 1-315-724-8618

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September 26, 2007

Construction Site Theft Ring Busted

    New Hartford Police Arrest Utica Man On Four Felony Charges Stemming From thefts at construction sites. More arrests forthcoming.   

A three-month investigation into the largest theft ring of its kind in this area has lead to the arrest of a Utica man. The New Hartford Police Department has culminated a three-month investigation into over twenty-five reported thefts from construction sites within the Town Of New Hartford and surrounding areas. The investigation has lead to the arrest of Joseph E. Mazza, age forty of Utica. Mazza along with additional individuals are responsible for over twenty-five thefts Between May 2007 and September 2007 from construction sites in The Town Of New Hartford and surrounding areas.  The New Hartford Police Department with the assistance of the Oneida County District Attorneys Office has investigated these thefts from active construction sites, in which $100,000 worth of power tools and construction materials were stolen. The reported incidents range from thefts of power tools and construction materials left on the site, to Burglaries of homes currently under construction. Construction sites such as The Preswick Glenn and Lowes construction sites as well as residential developments in the Town Of New Hartford have been targeted several times, Police utilized surveillance technology of suspects as well the construction sites to further the investigation.

During this investigation it was learned that Mazza was taking orders for tools and building materials and once he located the tools or materials at a construction site he would steal what he needed. It was also learned that the stolen items were at times being sold to subjects involved in the contracting business.  It was also learned that these aspects of the investigation are continuing with arrests anticipated for possessing the stolen items.  It is believed that these individuals who purchased the stolen tools and materials did so knowing that they were stolen. 

On September 26, 2007 The New Hartford Police Department with the assistance The Oneida County Drug Enforcement Task Force executed a search warrant at Mazza’s residence on Kossuth Ave. in The City of Utica, where several thousand dollars worth of stolen property including expensive power tools and building materials were recovered. Mazza later admitted that he bought some of the tools from crack addicts.  Mazza who has been previously convicted of two felonies, was subsequently arrested and charged with four felony crimes.

     1 Count of Burglary in the Third Degree a D Felony.

Mazza will face several additional felony charges related to this investigation. At approximately 3:00am on September 26, 2007 Mazza was arraigned in The Town Of New Hartford Court. Mazza was remanded to the Oneida County Jail on No Bail pending a Felony Exam. The investigation is continuing, additional arrests are likely and Police will now begin the process of identifying the owners of the stolen property, which was recovered at Mazza’s residence.

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