Bruce Newton, 39, allegedly masterminded an operation that targeted victims at funerals
Three people are accused of using newspaper obituaries to find funerals to carry out car break-ins in Rochester, New York.
Bruce Newton, 39, allegedly masterminded the operation that targeted victims at funerals, Monroe County Sheriff Patrick O’Flynn said.
Newton, Cearra Campbell, 20, and Chelsea O’Hare, 23, are each charged with eight counts of fourth-degree grand larceny and three counts of third-degree criminal mischief.
Both Campbell and O’Hare are prostitutes, according to O’Flynn.
O’Flynn said Campbell is Newton’s girlfriend.
Newton allegedly would use prostitutes to pose as the theft victims and use the stolen credit cards at stores, according to a Democrat and Chronicle reports.
Cearra Campbell, 20, (left) and Chelsea O’Hare, 23, (right) are reportedly prostitutes who joined Newton in the robberies in several counties in New York
‘Over the course of three months, in several counties, there were a number of vehicle break-ins reported in parking lots at local parks and commercial locations including, vehicle break-ins at funeral homes in Monroe, Livingston and Ontario counties,’ according to a release from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
‘All crime is significant however, some crime in particular is despicable,’ O’Flynn said. ‘To target individuals at a vulnerable time in their life while attending a funeral is just plain reprehensible.’
‘To target individuals at a vulnerable time in their life while attending a funeral is just plain reprehensible,’ Monroe County Sheriff Patrick O’Flynn said (stock image)
The current charges are only related to crimes in Livingston County and O’Flynn said more charges are expected.
‘This is really only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the charges we expect to be lodged,’ O’Flynn said.
Newton is being held without bail due to previous felony convictions, while O’Hare and Campbell had bail set at $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 bond.
Livingston County Sheriff Thomas Dougherty said: ‘When you’re targeting folks that are their lowest, grieving over a family loss and they come out to smashed windows, you can imagine, not only now are they grieving but now they are upset.
‘We all felt the victims’ pain.’
‘Over the course of three months, in several counties, there were a number of vehicle break-ins reported in parking lots…at funeral homes in Monroe, Livingston and Ontario counties,’ according to a release from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office (stock image)
Newton, Campbell, and O’Hare were arrested and charged on Saturday.
‘Knowing that the suspects frequented certain stores to use the stolen credit cards, investigators waited at the Best Buy in Henrietta,’ a release said.
‘The suspects arrived at Best Buy and were taken into custody after purchasing $750 in stereo equipment using stolen credit cards.’
Authorities said the strong working relationships and the ability to share information between departments led to the completion of this investigation.