ONEONTA _ City police are investigating if two young men arrested recently on burglary charges may be connected to other break-ins around Oneonta.
Mark A. Clark Jr., 22, of Oneonta, was charged with second-degree burglary and fourth-degree grand larceny for allegedly stealing $1,790 from a Tilley Avenue family during a Nov. 17 break-in.
Joshua A. West, 19, of Oneonta, was charged with second-degree burglary and attempted petit larceny in connection with an alleged break-in Nov. 18 on Cliff Street.
Police are investigating whether the two men may be responsible for a series of break-ins throughout the city this fall, Lt. Dennis Nayor said Monday.
But there have been additional burglaries since Clark was arrested Nov. 26 and West was arrested Nov. 18, Nayor said.
Police said they believe Clark and West are unemployed.
Clark was staying at a Spruce Street address, while West was living at the Oasis Motel.
A 36-year-old woman who lives on High Street told police in a sworn statement included in court records that West had said he and Clark had broken into two houses in the West End.
Tilley Avenue is in the West End, while Cliff Street is between Chestnut Street and Fairview Street near Center City.
West said he collaborated with Clark on the Cliff Street break-in, according to his statement to police on file in city court.
Clark burglarized numerous homes, West said in his statement to police.
"(Clark) checks the doors of the houses until he finds one that is unlocked and then he goes inside," West said in the statement.
A Tilley Avenue man reported to police that someone broke into his family's home through a rear door that may have been unlocked overnight and stole $1,790 from a briefcase, two wallets and a purse.
A 20-year-old woman told police she awoke at about 6 a.m. to find two men in her home on Cliff Street, according to her statement on file in city court.
The woman, a student at the State University College at Oneonta, said nothing was taken, but her housemate's computer cord was pulled out of the electrical socket and the computer was out of place.
Nayor said that the two men were charged for those specific incidents because police felt those were the strongest cases to present to the court.
West has not been charged in connection with the Tilley Avenue break-in and Clark has not been charged with the Cliff Street break-in.
Break-ins have been reported recently on Church Street, Chestnut Street and Ford Avenue. Earlier in November, burglaries or attempted burglaries were reported on Grand Street, Hill Place and Spruce Street.
"I don't know what to blame it on. It does seem like we are having a lot all at once here," Nayor said.
Clark was arraigned in city court and sent to Otsego County jail on $12,500bail/$20,000 bond. He is to reappear today for further proceedings.
West was arraigned in city court and sent to Otsego County jail on $5,000 bail/$10,000 bond. He is to reappear Jan. 5 for further proceedings.
Nayor said that even though arrests have been made people need to continue to lock their doors, be alert to what is going on in their neighborhoods and call police to report suspicious behavior.
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Jake Palmateer can be reached at 432-1000 or (800) 721-1000, ext. 221, or at jpalmateer@thedailystar.com.
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