Fairfax Robbery Reported On Fox 44 - Photos Of TV Report

[Henry]

Hi All,

Well, not great photos and I will try to repeat what they said on Fox 44 about the robbery.

A 12 year old stole some marked money.  Robert and Mary Gero's son thought he had a friend.  Now that same boy is accused of stealing from the family home.  Ann Lemieux, Landlord for the Geros told Fox 44:  "He knew where he was going -- He has been in the apartment before."  Vermont State Police say on Saturday night a 12 year old broke into the Gero's home, stole jewelry and $80 in change -- The money helped police catch the suspect.  Ann Lemieux said, "In the change jar was a red quarter and it has always been in the change jar - when they rolled the quarters, they always kept the red one in there."  Police found the red quarter at Steeple Market, right next door.  Surveillance video wasn't available - A cashier accidentally turned the cameras off so the camera had not been recording for two days.  Instead, a clerk who worked the night of the burglary helped identify the suspect.  The kid now faces a burglary charge in Juvenile Court

Ann Lemieux - Landlord for the Gero Family

Dave Shover - He explained the video surveillance camera not working

One of the Clerks at Steeples

Looks like Chris Santee

Click on the link below to see more photos that I took during the Fox 44 Report - I believe I covered most of the things said in the Fox 44 report.  I will try to put up the St. Albans Messenger report on the burglary tomorrow

http://www.vtgrandpa.com/photos/fxrobbery_080113?page=1

[Henry]

The St. Albans Messenger Staff also did some investigation and Friday's St. Albans Messenger contained this report by the Staff on the front page:

Red coin clue leads to culprit

Fairfax homeowner helps crack case
By Messenger Staff

FAIRFAX — A coin, painted red, and a burglary victim's own investigative work have led police to a 12-year-old male suspect in a Jan. 13 theft here.
On Sunday, at about 9 p.m., Vermont State Police received a report of a burglary that occurred at a residence where no one was home.

The homeowners, Robert and Mary Gero, reported that someone entered through an unlocked door at the rear of their residence and stole a large amount of loose change from a glass container, assorted jewelry, cell phone, and additional items.

Police said the victims were especially concerned about a necklace and cross pendant that had been taken. They advised that the one-of-a-kind item had been purchased for their son in Florida. They also advised that the change in the glass container was being-saved for gas money to spend on a trip to Florida.

The following day, State Police again heard from the victims. They reported that a specific quarter - painted red - had been incorporated with the change prior to the burglary.

Robert Gero advised that he did not know the origin of the quarter, but said he always kept it in the container, said police.

Gero told police that he had already gone to Steeples Market in Fairfax and inquired about any large amounts of change that had been recently returned.  He said he was told that $60 in coins had been returned on the previous day.  Gero said he had asked the Steeple Market employee if there had been a quarter painted red among the returned change and was told yes.

Vermont State Police responded to Steeples Market and recovered the red quarter. The market's video surveillance system had not been functioning at the time of the change exchange, but police said they were able to obtain the name and approximate age of the suspect with the help of store employees.

State Police later executed a search warrant at the young suspect's residence in Fairfax.   During the search, troopers recovered the necklace and cross pendant, the stolen phone, and additional stolen property.

Individuals residing at the suspect's residence cooperated with police throughout the incident and assisted with the recovery of the property, said authorities.

Police said that during the search, the juvenile suspect admitted he entered the residence and stole the items.

State Police said the youth would be handled in juvenile court and so the identity of the suspect was not made public.