CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. – Two Rochester men are under arrest by Cheektowaga Police after they forced their way out of a Tops Market and were found to have hundreds of dollars in stolen groceries in their possession.
Pressley Kelly, 66, of St. Paul Street and Richard Pearson, 55, of Jay Street, both of Rochester were caught following a police traffic stop on Harlem Road just north of Genesee Street Monday evening.
Police pulled the pair over shortly after the men forced their way past a 24-year-old employee at the Tops Market on Thruway Plaza Drive.
Cheektowaga Police Assistant Chief James Speyer tells the Cheektowaga Chronicle the men stole $397.76 worth of groceries from the Thruway Plaza store. Both men are facing charges of Felony robbery 2nd and Felony burglary 3rd.
Police say the men are “professional shoplifters”, and they are known to Tops Markets.
The men are facing felony burglary because they were banned from Tops stores before Monday’s incident. The felony robbery charge is because both men forced their way out of the store, pushing an employee in the process.
The pair is also facing charges of possession of stolen property. Police say when they searched the car, they found lobster and shrimp valued at $313.94 from Wegmans on Transit Road; steaks valued at $143.54 from Aldi; steaks valued at $68.66 from Tops Market on Union Road; and crab legs valued at $31.88 from Tops Market on Transit Road.
They were arraigned in town court Tuesday morning. They are still in lock-up here in the Buffalo metro area. They will be back in front of a judge here in Cheektowaga on February 10th at 8:30 a.m., for their felony hearing.