By David S. Lewis

 NEW SCOTLAND – Burglar Justin R. Contento has been brought to justice, due to police diligence and sneaker negligence.  Again.   

Contento, 22, of 452 Unionville-Feura Bush Road, was apprehended on June 4 and charged with second-degree burglary, and fourth-degree grand larceny both felonies, for breaking into a Clarksville home and stealing a computer. 

The break-in was reported on Nov. 29 of last year when a North Road resident called 911 and told police that she had seen a male climb out of a window in her neighbor’s home, according to a release from the Albany County Sheriff’s department.  The neighbor said that the burglar fled when he realized he had been spotted. 

Police, responding to the call, determined that the intruder had entered the home by way of an unlocked window, and they found his sneakers on the ground, outside the open window.

Even with a police dog, the investigators were unable to find the barefoot bandit, but they took the sneakers in as evidence, and ran a DNA analysis.   

A match was found.  Contento’s deoxyribonucleic acid was on file from a January burglary arrest last year; at that time, police were able to match his sneakers to the muddy footprints that had been left on the floor of the home he was robbing.

Police speculate that Contento removed his shoes this time in an effort to leave less evidence.  He was not successful.

Contento was arraigned in New Scotland Town Court before Judge Margaret Adkins; he was remanded to Albany County jail.  His bond was set at $25,000.  The computer was recovered near the scene of the crime.