VSP investigate multiple thefts including a stolen vehicle & store break-in
September 1, 2024 | By Lisa ScagliottiSept. 9 UPDATE: See below for an update on the vehicle theft case and a fundraiser to assist the Waterbury resident who may not be reunited with their stolen truck for some time.
Vermont State Police have reported multiple new investigations in the past week including a vehicle theft at Snowfire, a burglary at Crossroads Beverage and Deli, and thefts at Shaw’s supermarket and the Country Club of Vermont.
In several instances, troopers are looking to the public for any information that might assist investigators in solving these cases.
Friday, Aug. 30: Convenience store burglary
Shortly after 11:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 30, Vermont State Police responded to a report of a burglary at Crossroads Beverage and Deli on North Main Street in Waterbury.
Police said they collected evidence at the scene and store security cameras provided footage of both a masked individual involved and their dark four-door vehicle. The suspect is pictured wearing a white hoodie, shorts and sneakers. Police shared several images (below) in a news release.
The police report did not indicate what was taken from the store in the incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact Trooper Ryan Riegler through the Berlin barracks at 802-229-9191. Anonymous tips may be made online at vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.
Aug. 29-30: Pickup stolen at Snowfire
On Friday, Aug. 30, state police reported an investigation into the theft of a Toyota Tacoma pickup from the side lot at Snowfire Auto on Vermont Route 2 in Moretown, just over the Waterbury town line.
According to the report by Sgt. Alex Comtois, the vehicle was stolen during the overnight hours of Thursday-Friday, Aug. 29-30.
The pickup had a temporary registration on it of W00680X, police said.
Anyone with information that might help investigators is asked to call the Vermont State Police Berlin barracks at 802-229-9191 or leave a tip online at vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.
UPDATE Sept. 8: According to Vermont State Police Sgt. Alex Comtois, the vehicle in this case was stopped by New York State Police on Sept. 2 at 1:50 a.m. in Fort Edward, New York, for a minor traffic violation. The driver and passenger were arrested and charged with possession of the vehicle and other drug-related charges.
Truck owner and Waterbury resident Alex Showerman says it may be some time before the truck is returned given that it is involved in a criminal case out of state. An online GoFundMe fundraiser is collecting donations to potentially replace the vehicle if necessary with the help of Snowfire. So far it’s collected over $3,600. See more details on that here.
Bank cards stolen at golf course used in shopping spree
Country Club of Vermont in Waterbury Center. Photo by Gordon Miller
State police also are investigating incidents on two recent occasions at the Country Club of Vermont in Waterbury Center where bank cards were stolen from parked vehicles and later used in a shopping spree.
On Tuesday, Aug. 27, troopers received a report of the latest thefts that staff at the golf course said took place on Sunday, Aug. 25.
“Numerous financial institution cards had been stolen from motor vehicles and were then used at local stores for purchases exceeding $8,000,” Trooper Mae Murdock wrote in a press release. Murdock noted that another similar incident was reported on Aug. 14 as well.
Murdock was unable to be reached for additional details. The report did not say specifically where the cards were used or what items were purchased. Barracks commander Lt. Thomas Howard told Waterbury Roundabout in an email that at least one purchase was made at a retail store in Williston.
It was unclear whether the vehicles were damaged during the thefts or if the cards were taken from unlocked vehicles.
This investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is encouraged to contact Trooper Murdock at the Berlin Barracks at 802-229-9191. Anonymous tips may be provided online at vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.
Police are especially interested to learn of any additional similar incidents that took place at 2800 Country Club Road in Waterbury or nearby.
Friday, Aug. 30: Purse stolen from Shaw’s shopping cart
Suspect in purse theft at Shaw's. Image courtesy of Vermont State Police
Late on Friday morning, Aug. 30, Vermont State Police were called to Shaw’s supermarket on Vermont Route 100 in Waterbury where a shopper reported her purse was stolen from her shopping cart inside the store.
According to Trooper Adam Martin, police were notified at 11:17 a.m. that a 72-year-old Fayston woman was shopping when her purse was taken from her cart while it was unattended in the store.
Police shared images from store security camera footage showing a man walking out of the store with the purse. He is seen wearing a blue Nike hoodie, blue jeans, and white high-top sneakers. Police ask that anyone with information that may help identify the individual pictured should call the Berlin barracks at 802-229-9191 or submit a tip online at vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.
Friday, Aug. 30: Stolen vehicle + arrest on I-89
A report of a disabled vehicle near Exit 10 on Interstate 89 in Waterbury led to the arrest of a Barre man wanted on a burglary charge.
The call happened just before 3 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 30, when state police were notified about a disabled vehicle along the southbound side of the highway. The vehicle was identified as stolen from Burlington, police said. Troopers arrived to find that the occupants had left the vehicle on foot.
Police were later able to locate some of the occupants, one of whom was Jesse Shaw, 29 of Barre, who had an active arrest warrant, according to a police press release.
Shaw was taken into custody without incident and transported to Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans where he was lodged for lack of $1,000 bail. Shaw was cited to appear in Washington County Superior Court Criminal Division on Sept. 3. State police noted that the warrant for Shaw’s arrest contained a felony count of burglary into an occupied dwelling.
Friday, Aug. 30: Arrest made in June theft at Shaw’s
Also on Friday, Aug. 30, Vermont State Police reported an arrest made in a June incident at Shaw’s supermarket in Waterbury.
In a press release, Trooper Skylar Velasquez at the Berlin barracks said that Gregory Haskins, 50 of Waterbury, was cited to appear in Washington County Superior Court Criminal Division on Oct. 10 to answer to a charge of retail theft. The charge stems from an incident on June 19 at 1 p.m. when police were called to the grocery store for the report of a man leaving with unpaid items. Police said Haskins was identified as the individual in question seen in store security camera footage.
Duxbury man cited in motorcycle case
Early last week, Vermont State Police Trooper Michelle Archer from the Williston barracks reported an arrest in Duxbury connected with a recent incident involving a stolen motorcycle.
Tristan Pierce, 28 of Duxbury, was cited to appear in Washington County Superior Court on Oct. 10, to answer to a charge of unlawful taking of tangible personal property, according to the report.
The incident took place on Aug. 14 involving a motorcycle belonging to a Northfield man that was parked at a property on Foxglove Run in Duxbury. The investigation determined that Pierce “had the motorcycle unlawfully towed from a private property that was not under his ownership or control,” Archer wrote.