Franklin Man Charged In

Otsego Bicycles Burglary

ONEONTA – A Franklin man was arrested today after surveillance video footage showed him breaking into and leaving Otsego Bicycles with two bikes valued at $2,300, city police report.

Michael Romano, 17, was arrested by OPD officers after they were alerted at 5:40 a.m. to a broken window outside of Otsego Bicycles on Water Street.

A review of surveillance footage, police said, revealed Romano leaving on one of the stolen bikes and returning shortly to pick up a second. Police located Romano in Neahwa Park and arrested him for Burglary in the third degree, Criminal Mischief in the third degree and Grand Larceny in the fourth degree.

During the interview, Romano said he had stolen a van from a downtown Oneonta garage on July 30, police report.

“We had located the van abandoned in the city after it was reported stolen and abandoned in the city,” said Police Chief Doug Brenner. “People were running away from it, and when we opened the back, there were a bunch of bikes inside.”

None of the bikes were reported stolen, Brenner said.

But in his alleged admission, Brenner said he also implicated Benito Brito, 26, homeless, in the van theft. Brito was located by police on Southside and taken into custody, where he allegedly admitted to taking the van. Both were charged with Burglary in the third degree and Grand Larceny in the third degree and held for arraignment.