Three young men from New Jersey have found themselves in handcuffs after a night that involved breaking into an amusement park in New York and causing a multitude of mischief which included theft of plush toys and vandalism. These activities at Rye Playland have led to substantial financial damages and a list of criminal charges against the trio.
The individuals, one aged 20 and two aged 19, ultimately surrendered to Westchester County police. They are accused of having willfully caused an estimated $57,000 in damages during their Sept. 23 break-in, as NBC New York reported. According to the police, the men arrived in a small boat they had apparently taken without permission from a marina across the Long Island Sound in Connecticut. They climbed a fence to enter the amusement area and promptly began to wreak havoc.
Their crime involved cutting fiber optic cables from an electrical room and stuffing 200 plush animals into garbage bags to abscond with them, as well as a failed attempt to dislodge a photo booth from its place on the boardwalk. The incident was corroborated by surveillance footage that notably captured the escapade, which ended with the men returning the boat to the Connecticut marina, Patch reported. Law enforcement also disclosed photos of the suspects on social media, a move that seemingly gathered amused public attention and also attracted useful tips that assisted in the investigation.
Identified as Daniel Bracco, 19, of Oakland; Connor Evancho, 20, of Pompton Lakes; and Anthony Conkling, 19, of Wyckoff, the men are facing third-degree burglary and second-degree criminal mischief charges, both felonies, along with criminal trespass and petit larceny, according to police. Each of the accused has been released from Rye City Court and is now awaiting a court date. "The County Police would like to thank the public for its assistance in this investigation," they said in a statement on Patch. Indeed, the turn of events confirms the role community engagement can play even in the midst of illegal escapades.
Amidst the ongoing judicial process, the suspects have not yet publicly responded to the charges, and it's unclear if they have retained legal representation. Attempts to reach out to their attorneys were met without immediate response.
