Cookie Crook Strikes Again: Suspect Steals Over $700 Worth of Sweets, Then Grabs Beer in Bizarre Crime Spree!

In a crime spree that sounds more like a scene from a quirky heist movie than real life, Utica police have arrested a man who allegedly went on a wild robbery rampage, stealing everything from cookies to cases of beer.

It all began on the cold morning of January 28th, 2025, when Utica Police received a call about a break-in at a local grocery store. Upon arriving at the scene, they were met with a shocking sight: a shattered front window and an inside littered with remnants of a strange theft. Surveillance footage revealed the bizarre nature of the crime — the suspect had broken into the store and made off with an impressive $700 worth of cookies! Yes, you read that right: cookies. On top of that, the thief had nabbed a flatbed cart valued at $500, proving that his sweet tooth was as serious as his criminal intentions.

But the story didn’t end there. Fast forward to February 1st, and another crime was reported at a local convenience store. This time, the suspect was spotted stealing multiple cases of beer. Store employees, who recognized the culprit, quickly provided his name to police. The same man, Charles Green, had allegedly struck again.

After connecting the dots between the two incidents, detectives were hot on Green’s trail. The Utica Police’s Criminal Investigations Division, with help from the Mohawk Valley Crime Analysis Center, worked tirelessly to identify Green, and by March 28th, they tracked him down. Charles Green, 41, was arrested and charged with a slew of crimes, including:

• Burglary in the second degree

• Grand Larceny in the fourth degree

• Criminal Mischief in the third degree

• Petit Larceny

While many will remember Green for his strange penchant for sweets and alcohol, the case raises some serious questions about his motivations — and whether he was simply indulging in his cravings or embarking on a much deeper criminal spree.

Either way, the authorities are calling this a significant victory. Green’s arrest may put an end to his cookie-and-beer-fueled crime spree, but it’s left the community wondering just how far this unusual burglar will go for his next heist.

Press Release

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 On January 28th, 2025 at approximately 7:00AM Utica Police units were dispatched to a local grocery store regarding a burglary investigation.

Upon arrival they were met by management who informed them that an unknown individual had broken the front glass window and entered the store. Once inside the suspect proceeded to steal over $700 in cookies on a flatbed cart valued at $500. The suspect then fled the store with the items.

Surveillance footage was provided the investigator assigned to the case, and with the assistance of the Mohawk Valley Crime Analysis Center, the footage was disseminated and a positive identification was made on the suspect.

Then on February 1st, 2025 Utica Police officers took a report of a separate larceny from a convenience store of the same male in which the male stole cases of beer and fled the scene. In this incident the store employees were familiar with suspect and provided the name to the officers.

Based on the time frame both cases were assigned to the investigator in the Criminal Investigations Division, and charges for both incidents were submitted for warrant consideration.

On March 28th, 2025 the Utica Police Department Warrants Unit located the suspect, Charles Green age 41 of Utica and arrested him. He was brought to the Utica Police Department and charged with:

Burglary in the second degree

Grand Larceny in the fourth degree

Criminal Mischief in the third degree

Petit Larceny