Pair Arrested For String of Break-ins in Cortland & Tompkins Counties

Two people are facing numerous felony and misdemeanor charges in both Cortland and Tompkins Counties after a string of burglaries and identity theft. Charges stem from numerous police agencies including the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office and New York State Police; additional charges are likely from both Ithaca and Cortland Police.

Just after 11 in the morning on November 9th, officers with the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office along with Cayuga Heights Police and New York State Police responded to a business located at the 2300 block of North Triphammer Road in Lansing.

An investigation found two suspects who were involved in a string of thefts in both Cortland and Tompkins Counties, were inside the business on North Triphammer attempting further thefts.

As officers arrived on scene they saw one suspect, 25 year old Robert A. Snyder of Lansing, standing in front of the business while the second suspect, 29 year old Victoria E. Rose of Freeville, was seen exiting the business and walking randomly around vehicles in the parking lot of the business.

Officers were able to take Snyder into custody without incident, but when attempting to take Rose into custody, she began to move between parked vehicles and ducking to avoid being seen. That’s when the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office says Rose entered into an unoccupied vehicle, which didn’t belong to her. As officers approached the vehicle, she started it, put the car into reverse and accelerated.

In the process of attempting to get away from police, she struck an officer who was knocked to the ground. The Sheriff’s Office says the officer was uninjured. She then collided with another vehicle before fleeing at high speed.

Rose was found by additional officers in another parking lot nearby. As they approached the vehicle, they saw her running away from the scene on foot. Officers were able to catch up with her, but Rose fought with officers and struck one of the officers in the head multiple times. She was eventually taken into custody. 

The Sheriff’s Office says Rose was able to flee in the vehicle from the parking due to stealing the keys from inside the business.

Rose was charged with 4 counts of Grand Larceny, Attempted Assault in the 1st, Attempted Assault upon a Police Officer, all Felonies, Unlawful Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle in the 3rd, Resisting Arrest, and Obstructing Governmental Administration in the 2nd, all Misdemeanors. Rose also faced numerous traffic citations.

Snyder was charged with 3 counts of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the 4th, and Felony, and 3 counts of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the 5th, a Misdemeanor.

In addition to the charges by the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office above, both were arrested and charged by State Police at Homer from an ongoing investigation.

State Police say they received a report of credit cards stolen from Planet Fitness in Cortland inside the locker room on November 4th. State Police say the cards were used at a gas station in the City of Cortland and at Walmart. A day later, State Police say another victim reported someone entered their vehicle while it was parked at Planet Fitness and stole debit cards with fraudulent charges made.

Both Rose and Snyder were identified as the suspects. Both Rose and Snyder were charged with 2 counts of Identity Theft in the 3rd, and Conspiracy in the 6th, both Misdemeanors, each.

X101 News has reached out to Cortland Police who say their investigation is ongoing with charges expected.