Above: The Stamford Country Store on 2 Harper Street, which was robbed on Saturday by a masked man wielding a kitchen knife. Source: Google Street View.
As if Halloween in the Catskills weren't scary enough: In the last few days, two Delaware County convenience stores were robbed at knifepoint.
The two robberies -- both committed by a man wielding a large kitchen knife, and wearing a blue knit balaclava that covered his face -- were similar enough that police believe they were committed by the same person.
According to a news release from state police at Oneonta, the Stamford Country Store was robbed around 10pm on Saturday, October 26. The suspect brandished a large kitchen knife, demanded cash from the register, then fled on foot. Police say he was wearing a green or black jacket, work pants with zippers on the bottom, gray gloves and a blue knit hat with eye and mouth holes cut into it.
Two days later, around 6:30am on Monday, October 28, the Mirabito Convenience Store #19 on 15863 Route 23 in Davenport was robbed. Again, the suspect showed a kitchen knife, demanded cash from the register, and fled on foot. He was wearing a black jacket, jeans, and a blue knit hat with eye and mouth holes.
No injuries were reported during either robbery.
State police are asking anyone with information about either robbery to call the Oneonta barracks at 607-423-3211.
Update: On Nov. 12, New York State Police arrested 33-year-old Jonathan Hynes of Stamford in connection with the robberies. According to a police news release, Hynes was charged with the following offenses:
Robbery 1st – two counts – Class B felony
Grand larceny 3rd – one count – Class D felony
Grand larceny 4th – one count – Class E felony
Criminal possession of a forged instrument 2nd – two counts – Class D felony
Burglary 3rd – one count – Class D Felony
Criminally possessing a hypodermic instrument – one count – Class A misdemeanor
Endangering the welfare of a child – one count – Class A misdemeanor
Hynes was remanded to the Otsego County jail without bail pending further action in Delaware County court.
Correction: The Davenport robbery occurred around 6:30am, not pm. Apologies for the error in an earlier version of this post.
