NIAGARA FALLS – An Ashland Avenue man was arrested for allegedly stealing metal items from people’s yards and storage garages, and selling them to scrap yards.
Christopher Harris, 34, was arraigned in City Court for his alleged role in multiple thefts over the past four months on charges of third-degree criminal trespassing, second-degree forgery, third- and fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, two counts of third-degree grand larceny, two counts of fourth-degree grand larceny and second-degree criminal mischief. He was remanded to Niagara County Jail on $41,500 bail. A return date was set for Friday.
Thefts or trespassing were reported April 14; two cases June 9; and a fourth case June 25, all from one location in the 1900 block of New Jersey Avenue, and additional charges of forgery and possession of stolen property for claiming the stolen items at a scrap yard on Lockport Road.
“He was renting a garage bay on New Jersey Avenue, where there were multiple tenants, and supposedly he was going into other bays, and the property around there, and scrapping other people’s property,” said Detective Michael Drake.
Drake said the scrap yards have records of him dropping stuff off. The property owners were able to track down their stolen items.
“On New Jersey, they kind of knew it was him. He took over one of the bays for business, and all of sudden people’s stuff goes missing,” Drake said.
email: nfischer@buffnews.com
Christopher Harris, 34, was arraigned in City Court for his alleged role in multiple thefts over the past four months on charges of third-degree criminal trespassing, second-degree forgery, third- and fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, two counts of third-degree grand larceny, two counts of fourth-degree grand larceny and second-degree criminal mischief. He was remanded to Niagara County Jail on $41,500 bail. A return date was set for Friday.
Thefts or trespassing were reported April 14; two cases June 9; and a fourth case June 25, all from one location in the 1900 block of New Jersey Avenue, and additional charges of forgery and possession of stolen property for claiming the stolen items at a scrap yard on Lockport Road.
“He was renting a garage bay on New Jersey Avenue, where there were multiple tenants, and supposedly he was going into other bays, and the property around there, and scrapping other people’s property,” said Detective Michael Drake.
Drake said the scrap yards have records of him dropping stuff off. The property owners were able to track down their stolen items.
“On New Jersey, they kind of knew it was him. He took over one of the bays for business, and all of sudden people’s stuff goes missing,” Drake said.
email: nfischer@buffnews.com