HASTINGS, NY — A 37-year-old man was arrested Sunday after State Police found him seated in a new vehicle at a closed car dealership with tools allegedly used to bypass security systems.
Members of the New York State Police responded to a reported trespass in progress at Burdick Ford on East Avenue in the village of Central Square at approximately 1 p.m. Nov. 9.
Upon arrival at the closed dealership, State Police located Nicholas B. Rodriguez, of Central Square, seated in the driver’s seat of a new 2025 Ford Raptor on the sales lot.
State Police observed the vehicle’s hood open with a jump pack attached to the battery.
Inside the vehicle, Rodriguez had a laptop computer and an On-Board Diagnostics scan tool, which can be used to bypass vehicle security systems to start a vehicle, according to police.
Rodriguez locked himself inside the vehicle and refused to exit.
The vehicle was subsequently unlocked by Burdick Ford staff, and he was taken into custody without further incident.
Further investigation revealed that prior to arriving at the dealership, Rodriguez went to a Burdick Ford employee’s residence unannounced, demanding the keys to the dealership and falsely claiming to be the employee’s new supervisor, police said.
Rodriguez was charged with one count of attempted grand larceny 2nd degree, a class D felony, and one count of stalking 3rd degree, a class A misdemeanor.
Rodriguez was arraigned in Oswego County CAP Court.
