BUFFALO, N.Y. — Two arrests were made following a burglary that happened earlier this month at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park.
While the park and museum are closed until April, two people attempted to steal artifacts from the site, the Erie County District Attorney's Office said Wednesday.
Buffalo Police were called late on Feb. 1 for a report of a burglary in progress. Two men were spotted on Oak Street, near Genesee Street, while in possession of a handgun, the DA's office said.
Those men — 18-year-old Abdikfi Saleh of Buffalo and 19-year-old Tyler G. Newman of Buffalo, formerly of Collins — are accused of stealing two vintage pistols from the USS Little Rock. They were recently arraigned in Buffalo City Court and charged with one felony count of burglary, one felony count of criminal possession of stolen property, and one misdemeanor count of criminal possession of a weapon.
"It looks like it was a very targeted burglary," Naval and Military Park President and CEO Paul Marzello told 2 On Your Side. "They knew exactly where to go. They went into the exhibits where there were firearms.
"What they didn't realize is that last year, we were very perspective in taking out all of the firing pins from all of the weapons. So even though they might have confiscated weapons, they were totally useless. They didn't know that."
Marzello added that lighting has been improved with higher intensity LED fixtures along the walkway by the ships, along with more security cameras. Burglar alarms will soon be installed on the gated off ships as well.
The two men face up to 15 years in prison. They are scheduled to return to court at 2 p.m. Thursday for a felony hearing.