A Dunkirk man was jailed after a series of vehicle burglaries in the City of Dunkirk.
In the early morning hours Tuesday and continuing throughout the day, City of Dunkirk police officers investigated a series of vehicle entries and larcenies from parked vehicles in the First Ward area of the city. Victims reported their vehicles had been entered and ransacked and assorted coins, electronics and tools were stolen. During the investigation police developed a possible suspect in the incidents.
Just before 10 p.m., police were summoned to the area of Armadillo and Pine streets for a report of a suspicious person lurking around several yards in the neighborhood. Based on the description given, police located and stopped Andrew R. Sobilo, 23, of N. Martin Street, on N. Jerboa Street near the intersection of Pine Street.
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Andrew R. Sobilo
A police officer allegedly observed Sobilo at the location peering into the open window of a parked vehicle which had some loose change in the center console. Officers stopped and detained Sobilo as he began walking away from the vehicle. Police were then able to positively identify Sobilo as the subject who had allegedly been seen lurking in the neighborhood and as the person responsible for one of the early morning car entries where he had been found inside the vehicle by one of the victims before fleeing the area with the victim's husband in pursuit.
Sobilo was placed under arrest and while being searched, was found to be in possession of several cellular telephones that he had allegedly stolen from parked cars.
He was also found to be in possession of several Xanax pills, some Suboxone and a small quantity of heroin, all of which are controlled substances.
He was charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle for entering a vehicle without permission, and trespass and petit larceny for the early morning incident. He was also charged with three counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance for the drugs that were found on his person.
Further investigation revealed that Sobilo had allegedly entered and stolen from at least 10 vehicles and a stolen GPS unit and a radar detector were recovered.
Sobilo was arraigned and sent to Chautauqua County Jail in lieu of $ 3,300 cash bail.
Additional charges are pending the completion of the investigation and Dunkirk police are encouraging any victims who may have had vehicles entered and items taken overnight between Monday and Tuesday to contact the Dunkirk Police Department during the 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. shift to file a report and possible charges on their behalf.
Police are also reminding residents to avoid leaving valuables in their cars and to lock their vehicles. All of the vehicles reported in these cases had been left unlocked overnight.
