CAROLINE, NY — New York State Police have arrested two individuals following an investigation into multiple burglaries in the town of Caroline.
On June 12, Troopers responded to Speed Hill Road in the town of Caroline for a report that two campers had been forcibly entered and property was stolen from within.
On June 13, Troopers responded to Grove School Road for a report of a hunting camp that had been forcibly entered, and items had been stolen from inside.
On June 14, Troopers responded to Wheeling Road and Old Seventy Six Road in the town of Caroline after several civilians observed Jeffrey Cornell, 42, of Brooktondale, and Autumn A. Zupancic, 30, of Newark Valley, in a vehicle and attempted to question them about the recent burglaries.
Cornell fled the scene on foot, while Zupancic remained near the vehicle.
When Troopers arrived, Zupancic provided a fake name and was found in possession of suspected drug paraphernalia.
Troopers also discovered that the vehicle they were in had stolen license plates on it.
Zupancic was arrested on June 14 and charged with false personation, a misdemeanor, and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the 7th degree, a misdemeanor.
On June 15, Troopers responded to Ekroos Road in the town of Caroline after the owner of a camper discovered it had recently been burglarized.
On June 16, Troopers discovered that around 7:30 a.m., Cornell was observed stealing a side-by-side utility vehicle that had been parked outside of a residence on Smith Road in the town of Caroline.
Two civilians observed Cornell operating the vehicle and attempted to stop him near Central Chapel Road.
Cornell drove the vehicle into a ditch, where it became disabled in mud, then attempted to flee into a wooded area.
He was stopped by the civilians then detained by members of the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office where he was then turned over to the New York State Police.
Cornell was arrested on June 16 and charged with four counts of burglary in the 2nd degree, a class C felony, grand larceny in the 3rd degree, a class D felony, criminal trespass in the 2nd degree, a misdemeanor, and criminal possession of stolen property in the 5th degree, a misdemeanor.
Zupancic and Cornell were processed by State Police then transported to the Tompkins County Jail for centralized arraignment.
Troopers were assisted by members of the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Department during the investigation.
