Tonawanda News

Local News

September 14, 2011

Thieves strike at two NT businesses

— — One person has been arrested and another suspect is in custody after two downtown establishments were burglarized in the early morning on Monday and Tuesday.

Wallys Pizza and Subs on Goundry Street and Crazy Jakes on Webster Street were both hit by what police said appears to be the same individuals, after they were caught in the acts on video surveillance.

Daniel C. Cain, 24, 94 Cleveland Drive, was charged Tuesday for third-degree burglary, second-degree criminal mischief and petit larceny. He is being held without bail. Another suspect who’s name has yet to be released is in police custody.

 Lisa Waliszewski, owner of Wallys Pizza, said the criminals struck two days in a row at her business by breaking in through the front door.

“They took a cash register the first night,” she said. “On the second night they took a cash register and a computer monitor.”

Waliszewski said about $300 in cash was also stolen from the registers. She values the two registers at $800 each.

“It was probably a godsend the second time because we had better footage and were able to identify them,” she said. “It looks like they kicked the door or pushed it in with some object, maybe a hammer.”

Crazy Jakes owner Greg Doel said thousands of dollars of damage was incurred at his establishment after the suspects forced their way in through a patio and bar area at about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, and stole numerous bottles of alcohol. They also damaged an ATM and cash registers.

Police were notified after a bar manager drove by the establishment around 2 a.m. and noticed a light was left on, about an hour after it had closed for the night.

 “He was passing by saw the light and thought he left something on,” Doel said. “He noticed all the damage and called the police.”

Doel said he was immediately notified as were police. The crimes also were captured on video surveillance cameras.

“There has been a few instances recently and the cameras have come into play quite a bit,” he said. “The police department was right on target.”

Doel said there was extensive damage to the establishment including an enclosure where alcohol is housed as well as an ATM and cash register, which the perpetrators attempted to break into. The individuals were not patrons of the bar nor did they appear to be professionals.

“They went into one of my vehicles behind the restaurant and took a crowbar that they used to get in,” Doel said. “They didn’t look prepared.”

Waliszewski said in the 18 years she’s been in business there has never been a problem with crime.

“I hope they go away for a very long time,” she said.

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