Two people face multiple charges following an investigation into a series of recent burglaries in the town of Caroline.
The New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation at Ithaca reports that Jeffrey Cornell, 42, of Brooktondale, and Autumn Zupancic, 30, of Newark Valley, were taken into custody after a multi-day investigation.
State Police initially responded to Speed Hill Road on Friday, June 12, for a report that two campers had been forcibly entered and property was stolen. The following day, Saturday, June 13, troopers responded to Grove School Road for a report of a forcibly entered hunting camp where items were also stolen.
On Sunday, June 14, troopers responded to Wheeling Road and Old Seventy Six Road after several civilians spotted Cornell and Zupancic in a vehicle and attempted to question them about the break-ins. Cornell allegedly fled the scene on foot, while Zupancic remained. Upon arrival, troopers discovered the vehicle carried stolen license plates. Zupancic allegedly provided law enforcement with a fake name and was found in possession of suspected drug paraphernalia. She was arrested Sunday and charged with False Personation and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree.
The break-ins continued on Monday, June 15, when a camper owner on Ekroos Road discovered their property had been burglarized.
On Tuesday, June 16, at approximately 7:30 a.m., Cornell was allegedly observed stealing a side-by-side utility vehicle from outside a residence on Smith Road. Two civilians spotted Cornell operating the vehicle and attempted to stop him near Central Chapel Road. Cornell allegedly drove the utility vehicle into a ditch, where it became stuck in the mud, and tried to flee into a wooded area. He was stopped by the civilians and detained by sheriff’s deputies before being turned over to State Police.
Cornell was arrested Tuesday and charged with four counts of Burglary in the Second Degree, Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree, and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fifth Degree.
Both suspects were processed and transported to the Tompkins County Jail for centralized arraignment. State Police noted that the investigation remains ongoing and additional charges are possible. Troopers were assisted throughout the investigation by the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Department.
