In the midst of last night's heavy downpour, Batavia police officers were searching through the Harvester Center for alleged intruders.
A tenant in the building spotted people he didn't recognize in the complex and called police.
Three young men from outside Genesee County were taken into custody and charged with burglary.
The alleged break-in occurred at 9:30 p.m.
Arrested where:
- William F. Wernert III, 24, of 2796 Patrick Henry St., Auburn Hills, Mich
- Cory C. Pickering, 22, of 253 Morgan St., Tonawanda
- Justin S. Fay, 24 of 505 University Ave., Rochester
All three were taken to Genesee County Jail and held on $10,000 bail each.
Wernert is also charged with possession of burglary tools. He allegedly picked a lock so the trio could enter the building.
The investigating officers were Matthew Baldwin, Eric Hill, Frank Klimjack, Jason Davis and Christopher Camp.
UPDATE: Officer Wayne Fenton also assisted in the investigation. His name was inadvertently not included in the original release from the PD.
Maybe they were trying to get
Maybe they were trying to get out of the rain? That $10,000 hotel room sounds like an expensive way way to keep dry, though.
Why are these people being
Why are these people being allowed into our community? I don't recognize any of these names and I know every criminal in this city. They are riff-raff and Batavia finds a welcoming haven for them. This filthy area they call a city is getting absolutely disgusting. Everything is going to the crapper in this city.
Oh ya Ken why not just put a
Oh ya Ken why not just put a fence around the city and make everyone pass through gates to get in --- oh wait I think thats been tried --- attend your local school system and take a history course. I'm sure there have never been any "riff-raff" in batavia that were born and raised there right?
uh, define riff-raff?
uh, define riff-raff?
You will always have these
You will always have these issues. This time they were not home grown and were outsiders. You all can take back your city by getting involve with it's protection. Through programs such as neighborhood watches, crime hotlines, and reporting unusual activies in which this good samaritan did. People tend to wait for the police to discover problems. This is why you hear the comment "the police are never around when you need them."
Riff-Raff = Undesirables, criminals, and people who take from society without giving back.
Ken, I think this is good
Ken, I think this is good news, I wouldn't overreact. This arrest shows our police department is on the ball. I am pretty sure the crime rate has fallen in the last few years because of their hard work. I am also sure Howard could get those numbers to share.
From what I see, the county is still a safe haven from the tough cities around us.
I didn't go into details,
I didn't go into details, because I wasn't taking notes last night -- but at about last night I went to the Town of Batavia Fire Department wing-ding and left in a heavy downpour ... literal bucks of water falling. I heard on the scanner the Harvester call. I wasn't sure what was going on, but I could hear the units working the scene. One reason I made sure to cite the investigating officers is I know they worked hard for this arrest -- having been a cop, I have a certain amount of empathy for what it might have been like on a night like last night to investigate a reported burglary in a place like the Harvester Center. So, Charlie, you're right, it does show good, hard police work.
I've lived in places where I feel a lot less safe than in Batavia (like, oh, East San Diego or Bakersfield), and the crime here is pretty minor compared to what I've been around before. Since I see a lot of the police reports and listen to the scanner, there isn't anyplace in the county where I think I would feel unsafe day or night. That certainly wasn't true in either San Diego or Bakersfield.
That said, one reason I push localism -- which includes, shop local, get involved in your community, etc. -- is that communities with strong local business cores, strong community involvement and a citizenry that is engaged and connected have much, much less crime. All of these factors work together: strong local businesses, healthy civic organizations, neighbors and friends who know and see other regularly, and that leads to benefits in areas such as lower crime, higher high school graduation rates, less strain on government services, etc.
Good observations and
Good observations and comments Howard. Living in other locations has given you a broader perspective on life in a smaller community like Batavia.
I would like to add that the criminally minded errorously think that a small community is easy pickings. Just ask the three scoff laws from Buffalo that tried to knock off the bank in Elba last month.
I'm content with our police
I'm content with our police force. That's not my concern. I just see more unfamiliar people now walking the streets that I can guarantee will do nothing but cause issue in this community somewhere down the road. My question is "Why Batavia"?
I owned a house in the City
I owned a house in the City of Rochester on Mohawk St for 12.5 years. Between the gunshots every night and my house being broken into about 5 times, I decided to move to Genesee county (East Bethany) in 2003. It didn't take long for me to be a victim of crime in EB. My utility trailer and 4 wheeler were stolen right from my own driveway and as far as I know have yet to be recovered.
I still prefer living in East Bethany as opposed to Rochester. My neighbors are fantastic and I much prefer the rural life to the city.
The fact is, there's crime no matter where you are and like Howard said, the best defense is to get involved. This is exactly what happened at Harvester Center. The tenants got involved, police responded and the "riff-raff" were apprehended.
Posted by ken darch on July
Posted by ken darch on July 26, 2009 - 5:51pm
Why are these people being allowed into our community? I don't recognize any of these names and I know every criminal in this city. They are riff-raff and Batavia finds a welcoming haven for them. This filthy area they call a city is getting absolutely disgusting. Everything is going to the crapper in this city.
How would you solve the problem of who should be in this city and who should be banned? Do you have a solution?
Please explain why you think Batavia is a 'filthy area'.
Which cities do you think are better? Why haven't you left to be in an area more desirable?
I can't help but wonder why people who are so disenchanted with Batavia haven't found another area in which to relocate.
Bea, I feel much the same way
Bea, I feel much the same way you do about Batavia and the surrounding area. It's a much better place to be compared to other places I've lived. If people think it's bad in Batavia, they've lived a sheltered life and haven't had much exposure anywhere else.
Bea - I'd be careful what you
Bea - I'd be careful what you wish for. People fleeing urban areas only contributes to the problem at hand. If you want a revitalization, efforts need to be made to get those households to want to stay. The questions to raise should be; "What would it take for you to remain here?" and "Are you willing to be part of that effort?"
Posted by Andrew Erbell on
Posted by Andrew Erbell on July 27, 2009 - 8:20am
Bea - I'd be careful what you wish for. People fleeing urban areas only contributes to the problem at hand. If you want a revitalization, efforts need to be made to get those households to want to stay. The questions to raise should be; "What would it take for you to remain here?" and "Are you willing to be part of that effort?"
Andrew,
I'm not advocating that people leave. I was just curious why the vitriolic diatribe against Batavia and if there is such disenchantment then why do they continue to live in the area.
Suggesting that we become a gated, restricted community is not the answer.
Perhaps Mr. Darch can answer the questions you pose.
I live in this area and do
I live in this area and do find that the alcohol and substance rehab that is right around the corner has some characters that wonder around unsupervised and also house people from all over ny that i have seen not always behaving themselves. Some tend to stay and redeem their past mistakes, went to college with a few , but as there always are some who their addictions can promote criminal behavior.
Posted by patricia armstrong
Posted by patricia armstrong on July 27, 2009 - 9:11pm
I live in this area and do find that the alcohol and substance rehab that is right around the corner has some characters that wonder around unsupervised and also house people from all over ny that i have seen not always behaving themselves. Some tend to stay and redeem their past mistakes, went to college with a few , but as there always are some who their addictions can promote criminal behavior.
I think you may be right.