June 29, 2009:
Clay (WSYR-TV) - State police are thanking NewsChannel 9 viewers for helping them capture a man suspected of stealing tools from the Great Northern Mall in Clay.
Troopers say Chad Walker, 29, of Central Square, was seen on surveillance video stealing a Dewalt hand tool combo set worth nearly $500 from the Sears store at the mall.
Shortly after NewsChannel 9 aired the video, police received several phone calls identifying Walker as the suspect.
Walker has been charged with one count of petit larceny; he was arraigned in the Town of Clay court and sent to the Onondaga County Justice Center on $1,000 cash bail.
He is due back in court on July 16.
Troopers say additional petit larceny charges are pending against Walker for previous thefts at the Sears store.
June 18, 2009:Caught On Tape: Suspected tool thief
Clay (WSYR-TV) - They believe he's repeatedly ripped off the Sears store in the Great Northern Mall, and now, state police are asking you to be On The Lookout for him.
Troopers have released some security camera footage that, with your help, could nail down the suspected tool thief.
“Loss prevention frequently looks at individuals with their video equipment, which they have all over the store, and they were able to pick up on this individual who they suspected had shoplifted in the store previously, and has done some other shoplifting,” says Trooper Jack Keller.
Cameras watched the suspect very closely as he makes his selection: A $500 Dewalt hand tool combo set. The man grabs the box and heads right out the door, with security hot on his trail.
As the call to 911 goes out, the man drops the box, and runs.
A trooper happened to be in the mall when that call went out; he came out to the mall parking lot, grabbed his K9 partner, and tried to track the suspect. They lost him in the woods.
“When he goes through the heavy brush behind the mall, he loses track. We believe at this point the suspect had a car waiting for him in the Morgan Road area, around the mall,” Keller says.
Even though he didn't get away with the big tool box, if he's caught, he'll still face charges.
“Hopefully we can get this guy in custody, because we believe he's done several of these at this particular store, and he's just waiting to be caught,” says Keller.
If you recognize the suspect, give state police at the Lysander barracks a call at 638-8200.
