A 19-year-old New Jersey man was charged this week in connection to a burglary and vandalism spree that occurred in September at the Playland amusement park in Rye.
Two other suspects – a 19-year-old and a 20-year-old, also from New Jersey – have been identified by detectives from the General Investigations Unit. They are expected to surrender in the coming days.
Anthony Conkling, 19, of Wykoff, N.J., pictured right, surrendered to County Police detectives yesterday and was booked on the following charges: Burglary 3rd Degree and Criminal Mischief 2nd Degree, felonies; and Criminal Trespass 2nd Degree and Petit Larceny, misdemeanors.
Conkling is accused of being one of three persons who entered the Playland amusement park in the overnight hours of Sept. 23-24 and committed acts of theft and vandalism. The trio arrived on the Playland beach in a small boat shortly before midnight on Sept. 23 and climbed a fence to enter the amusement area.
The intruders:
• Vandalized an electrical room, cutting or ripping out fiber optic cables for phone and internet service;
• Stole 200 stuffed animals, which they hauled away in garbage bags; and,
• Attempted to throw a photo booth off the boardwalk but were unable to do so.
The damage caused to property at Playland is estimated at $57,000. The boat they used was apparently taken from, and returned undamaged to, a boat club in Connecticut.
Conkling was arraigned in Rye City Court yesterday and released on his own recognizance. He is due back in court on Nov. 25.
The County Police would like to thank the public for its assistance in this investigation. Multiple tips were received from the public as a result of social media shares and media coverage of this incident.
