Joyriding car thieves a problem in Marlborough

By Katherine Donlevy
Posted 7/21/21

“I’m glad we’re back — seeing all your smiling faces… We’re back. We’re doing well,” Town Supervisor Al Lanzetta said at the top of the Marlborough …

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Joyriding car thieves a problem in Marlborough

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“I’m glad we’re back — seeing all your smiling faces… We’re back. We’re doing well,” Town Supervisor Al Lanzetta said at the top of the Marlborough Town Board’s fist in-person meeting in over a year.

The July 15 meeting was also streamed on Zoom in order to accommodate those who couldn’t make it to Town Hall, or who are not yet comfortable being in public spaces. Despite the changes, the return to in-person meetings marks progress out from the pandemic for the Town of Marlborough.

To celebrate, Lanzetta announced a day of festivities, dubbed Marlborough Community Pride Day, will take place Sept. 25.

“Coming out of Covid, we thought it would be a great idea,” said Councilman Scott Corcoran. Food and events, possibly even a bouncy castle, are planned for the occasion, as well as fireworks to conclude the day. Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan is expected to stop by to thank the Marlboroughites who gave back to the community during the past year, such as those who donated food to healthcare workers.

“That’s what the community’s about,” Corcoran said.

The celebration is not the same event planned for Sept. 18: the town’s Time of Remembrance to honor the seven townspeople who had succumbed to Covid-19. The commemoration, which was unanimously approved by the Town Board in March, would feature loved ones leading prayers and sharing stories of those who have passed, as well as craft boards for displays of photographs and other mementos. At dusk, lanterns will be released across the pond to the sound of solemn cello music.

Though there are plenty of town members worth celebrating, there is a group of young people who have been “giving [the police] a hard time” lately, said Police Chief Geralf Cocozza.

“Over the last two or three weeks, we’ve been having a problem with a local group of young men and women that have going around, specifically to the Village of Milton and checking vehicles and taking property out and in doing so, they find car keys and they just take the whole car,” Cocozza told the board.

There have been six incidents, the chief said, and the officers have made three arrests, including one earlier that day. The department is aware of the offenders, and is actively working to thwart additional thefts, but bail reform laws are making it difficult to keep the offenders in check.

“I know it’s a broken record … We arrest them today, tomorrow they steal another car,” Cocozza said.

For now, the chief is encouraging the people of Marlborough to lock their cars and keep valuable belongings, especially keys, out of the vehicle.

The board also discussed installing security cameras in Cluett Schantz park, a conversation that was sparked at the previous meeting. Lanzetta reported in June that someone had stood on the sink of the pavilion bathrooms, sending the porcelain shattering to the floor. Additionally, a significant amount of stone is missing from the retaining wall in what seems to be an intentional act of vandalism.