New York DEC Intercepts Alleged Home Burglary in Broome County

How much do you know about the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Department? I bet most people don't really know or even think about this state agency.

Well, they are an important part of the Empire State. I regularly check the NYS DEC website to check out what is happening in our state and what is new that we need to know about.

For example, it was through the NYS DEC that we learned about the new paper hunting licenses (which made a few people not so happy), we learned about invasive plants like the Japanese Knotwood, and invasive insects like the Spotted Lanternfly and what to do if we encounter these uninvited pests to New York.

Read More: Boo! It's A Haunted Lake In New York State

Did you know that The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation also has a Division of Law Enforcement? Yep. They enforce the 71 chapters of New York State’s Environmental Conservation Law, protecting fish and wildlife and preserving environmental quality across New York.

But on August 18, 2024, two DEC officers ran across something a bit unusual from their patrols, and it had nothing to do with fish, wildlife, or the environment.

According to the NYS DEC website, while on patrol, Environmental Conservation Officer McCormick and Lieutenant Rigoli observed a vehicle parked suspiciously on the side of the road in the town of Windsor. They observed a person quickly entering a vehicle while a second person was trying to hide behind a tree.

They circled back to the location, but the vehicle had already left. It was a bit later when the officers noticed the vehicle hidden in a field that was off a quarry road. The website noted that Officer McCormick recognized the driver as the same person they had previously charged for hunting and traffic violations.

Officers McCormick and Rigoli returned to the area where the driver and person trying to hide, were originally spotted. At the scene, the officer noticed a safe in the yard that had been wheeled on a dolly from an outbuilding with a door kicked in on the property.

Broome County Dispatch was contacted, who then alerted New York State Police. Stolen items were discovered from the outbuilding inside the driver's vehicle.

State Police pursued Penal Law charges, and  ECO McCormick addressed the vehicle and traffic law violations. The person who was hiding behind the tree was not located according to the NYS DEC.