Two children are accused of a multi-step burglary at a store in Dunkirk. The alleged goal? To steal fidget spinners.
Police were called to the Mad Hatter & More business, early Monday morning around 2:25 a.m., because the store's alarm was going off. Once they got on the scene they found the glass from one of the store's doors smashed out and numerous fidget spinners stolen.
Investigators tracked down an 11-year-old male and a 12-year-old male who allegedly climbed to the roof of the Mad Hatter store, disconnected wiring to the exterior perimeter lighting and then used a rock to smash the window to get inside the store. Once inside, the two boys skipped the cash register, instead scooping up a pile of fidget spinners and running from the scene.
"They were flying and leaving a trail behind them," said store manager Alexis Katta. Katta said a number of fidget spinners had slipped from the boys arms and were recovered outside the store and on a sidewalk.
"It is disappointing because they are now in big trouble for taking things that only cost about $5 apiece," added Katta.
Dunkirk Mayor Wilfred Rosas was also surprised by the age and boldness of the boys' crime.
"They will now be placed in the system, and hopefully, this will teach them a lesson so they never do this again," said Rosas.
Officers were able to recover the merchandise when they caught up with the kids at one of their homes. The case will now be handled in family court.
