Published: May 07, 2008 11:17 am      

MEDINA: Police praised for fast work

Washboard Willy’s II laundry owner Rich Colonna can do nothing but give praise to the Medina Police Department after swift action early Friday morning and the arrest of a suspect.

The laundry, at Starr and Main streets, was the scene of a burglary between 1 and 2 a.m. Friday. Police chief Jose Avila said officers patrolling on the midnight shift discovered the crime — a busted candy machine and the apparent theft of merchandise. Damages are estimated at more than $3,000 and loss of merchandise at around $200.

Levy I. Hill, 36, 11667 E. Scott Road, Medina, was identified Friday and charged Sunday with second-degree criminal mischief and petit larceny after he allegedly threw a rock through the candy machine at Washboard Willy’s II. Hill was arrested on a warrant while at the Orleans County Jail, where he is serving weekends for a previous crime, Avila said.

Colonna said within a matter of hours, the suspect had been identified and an arrest made.

“They are working hard and they are doing what they did and they did solve this burglary in an eight-hour time,” Colonna said. He had been contacted by the police around 3:30 a.m., and within a short amount of time was able to pull images of the suspect from surveillance video.

Though the most recent crime was found by officers on duty around 3:30 a.m., he said information obtained through the course of the initial investigation showed the actual crime being committed a couple hours earlier.

“We later found out through the course of our investigation that it occurred about 1 a.m.,” Avila said. “(The suspect) picked up a rock, threw it, went into the machine and stole a large quantity of candy, crackers and what-have-you.”

With the aid of a surveillance camera inside the laundry and the video feed connected to Colonna’s home, he was able to bring up what was caught on camera and gave the image to Avila. Colonna said that without the video, the police wouldn’t have had much to go on initially in the investigation. He encourages other business owners to install their own equipment in order to protect their assets.

“This video thing is a huge thing now — Big Brother is watching,” Colonna said. “You come into my laundromat, you’re on video. Any of my establishments ... you’re on video. It’s just the way it is in this type of era and time.”

Although the surveillance played a role in the investigation, Colonna gives much of the credit to the officers on duty and said, “They need a little bit of applause here.”

“The Medina Police Department were able to view through the windows and see the broken machine,” he said. He added that he keeps the interior of the building well lit at night, despite energy costs. “I’ve got to give that officer credit.”

Avila said the investigation is continuing, and there is a possibility of other charges being brought against Hill.

Contact reporter Miranda Vagg at (585) 798-1400, ext. 2225.