State Police have arrested two Erie County men they believe have been involved in 15 robberies over the last four months.
39-year-old Michael Tomaka, of Buffalo, and 27-year-old Cody Canterbury, of Derby, were charged with felony burglary, criminal mischief, and grand larceny. Canterbury was also charged with misdemeanor conspiracy, while Tomaka was additionally charged with felony criminal possession of a weapon.
On February 12, 2025, SP Lockport Bureau of Criminal Investigation received a report of a burglary at Magic Mist Car Wash on S. Transit Rd in the town of Lockport. The investigation led to the identification of two suspects, Tomaka and Canterbury. Investigation determined through the approximate two-month NYSP investigation, both suspects were subsequently linked to the following incidents of burglary throughout the Western New York area.
01/02/25 – Chaffee Car Wash and Mini – Sardinia, NY (ECSO) – Burglary, Criminal Mischief
01/30/25 – Magic Mist Car Wash – Grand Island, NY (ECSO) – Attempted Burg, Criminal Mischief
02/12/25 – Magic Mist Car Wash – Lockport, NY (NYSP) – Burglary, Grand Larceny, Criminal Mischief
02/17/25 – Middle E-Z Car Wash – Middleport, NY (NCSO) – Burglary, Criminal Mischief, Petit Larceny
02/22/25 – Advantage Self Storage – Depew, NY (Depew PD) – Burglary, Attempted Grand Larceny of MV, Criminal Mischief
03/03/25 – J and N Car Wash – Silver Creek, NY (Chautauqua Co. SO) – Burglary, Grand Larceny, Criminal Mischief
03/16/25 – Magic Mist Car Wash– Newfane, NY (NCSO) – Attempted Burglary, Criminal Mischief
03/16/25 – Pippard Automotive – Newfane, NY (NCSO) – Burglary, Petit Larceny
03/18/25 – Stop N’ Wash – Sanborn, NY (Lewiston PD) – Attempted Burglary, Criminal Mischief
03/24/25 – Outlet Car Wash – Niagara Falls, NY (NCSO) – Burglary, Criminal Mischief
03/26/25 – Magic Mist Car Wash – Medina, NY (Medina PD) – Attempted Burglary, Criminal Mischief
03/27/25 – Sardinia Covenant Community Church (ECSO) – Burglary, Criminal Mischief
04/06/25 – Tonawanda Self Storage – Tonawanda, NY (T/Tonawanda PD) – Burglary, Grand Larceny, Criminal Mischief
04/16/25 – Angola Self Storage – Angola, NY (Evans PD) – Burglary, Grand Larceny, Criminal Mischief
04/18/25 (Good Friday!) – Eden United Methodist Church – Eden, NY (Eden PD) – Burglary, Grand Larceny, Criminal Mischief
On April 18, 2025, assisted by Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, Town of Tonawanda Police Department, Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, NYSP Troop A Community Stabilization Unit, and NYSP Troop A Violent Felony Warrants and SP Lockport BCI executed search warrants at multiple locations recovering more than 60 items of stolen property associated with the incidents. Additionally, Tomaka was found to be in possession of a loaded handgun.
