Cigarette thieves collared, broke into Westerlo store

WESTERLO — Two Greene County residents were arrested this week for stealing over $1,000 worth of cigarettes from M & B’s Stop ’n’ Shop in Westerlo.

Justin F. Stanley, 22, of 9983 Route 9W, Athens, and Corrina A. Whiteford, 24, of 104 Devan Road, Greenville, were each charged with three felonies — third-degree burglary, fourth-degree grand larceny, and third-degree criminal mischief — and with a misdemeanor — fifth-degree conspiracy.
Cigarettes, said Senior Investigator Ronald Bates, with the Albany County Sheriff’s Department "are a target at many convenience stores."
"A single pack is over five dollars," said Bates. "They can sell them on the street for half that."
Bates worked on the case with lead Investigator James Goss. "An outside source," whose name Bates would not disclose, bought cigarettes from Stanley and Whiteford, he said. A third suspect was to be arrested Wednesday night, said Bates. "Those three will close it," the senior investigator said.

The theft occurred at 5 a.m. on Sept. 15, the sheriff’s department said; deputies responded to an intrusion alarm at the Stop ’n’ Shop on Route 85, where they discovered a broken window and a heavily damaged door. The burglars fled the scene shortly after tripping the alarms, according to a release from the sheriff’s department.

Stanley and Whiteford were arraigned in Westerlo Town Court by Judge Alan Bauder. Stanley was remanded to Albany County’s jail in lieu of $20,000 bail and Whiteford was released to the supervision of Albany County Probation, under pre-trial probation, the release said.

— Melissa Hale-Spencer