Burglar rides a cab to steal jar of change

Thursday, October 17, 2013 - 17:28

Frank Richard Markus

GUILDERLAND — A 90-year-old town resident couldn’t stop the burglar who entered his Wormer Road home last Thursday evening and, while he watched, took his jar full of change, say police.

But the cab driver who took Frank Richard Markus to the old man’s home alerted Guilderland Police at 6:30 p.m. that Oct. 10, according to a release from the department. The cabbie had picked up Markus in Albany and driven him to the Wormer Road home, then saw Markus enter the house and return to the cab with a jar full of change, the release says.

Markus, 50, of 489 Orchard Street in Delmar, wanted a ride back to Albany but the cab driver drove him to the Price Chopper in the Hamilton Square Plaza (formerly 20 Mall), where he cashed in the change, police say.

Markus was charged with second-degree burglary. Police say there were no threats against the homeowner and no injury.

Markus was arraigned in Guilderland Town Court and committed to Albany County’s jail.

— Melissa Hale-Spencer

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