Two Amsterdam men charged in convenience store burglary

PHOTOGRAPHER: Jessica Harding

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Police arrested two city men in connection with a burglary at the Fastrac convenience store Monday night.

Tyrone Roby, 33, of 47 McCleary Ave., was charged with third-degree burglary, fourth-degree grand larceny and fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, all felonies. Police said he took more than $1,000 worth of cigarettes from the store.

Roby was the passenger in a car driven by Timothy Shea, 58, of 2 Lodge St., who was charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, conspiracy, and criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor, after police said they found he had a small packet of heroin.

Police said members of the detective and patrol divisions were monitoring the area near the Fastrac convenience store on Market Street because of several previous thefts and an armed robbery two months ago.

Around 11 p.m., an undercover officer spotted a vehicle parked on Trinity Place near McDonald’s. Roby got out and walked into the Fastrac store. He left the store about 10 minutes later with something concealed under his jacket and motioned to the driver of the vehicle, Shea, to pick him up, police said.

Police stopped the vehicle on Prospect Street and saw several cartons of cigarettes on the floor in front of the passenger, who also appeared to have more cartons stuffed in his pants.

Roby was then removed from the vehicle and placed under arrest.

The driver, Shea, was also asked to get out of the vehicle. Police said he was clenching something in his hand, and after a struggle, police found he held heroin and he was arrested.

Police said Roby had entered a secure back room and forced his way into a metal cage where the cigarettes were kept. Police found 13 cartons of cigarettes and 10 individual packs of cigarettes in his possession.

Police said the investigation is continuing as Roby may be responsible for larcenies at other stores across the city.