Rockingham, VT – 12/6/12 – Today the Vermont State Police held a press conference regarding a series of related burglaries and other crimes that have spanned nearly 12 months and have affected communities in 5 states. The vast majority of these burglaries have occurred in Vermont and New Hampshire, primarily the southern portions of those states. Represented today at the conference, held at the Putney Fire Department in Vermont were representatives from the Vermont State Police, New Hampshire State Police, Windham County States Attorney, Windham County Sheriff’s Office, and many local police departments.

In the late summer of 2011 law enforcement officials in the Windham County, Vermont region began to notice a pattern of similar burglaries along the Connecticut River Valley, in Vermont. The Windham Count State’s Attorney’s Office worked to organize to an information sharing meeting regarding these burglaries between the various law enforcement agencies. This working group of investigators began working together on these burglaries, sharing information on mode of operation, time of day and other factors. In October of 2011, some critical information was developed during the investigation of a burglary in Cheshire County, New Hampshire that led investigators to understand these crimes crossed the Connecticut River into New Hampshire. The group of cooperating investigators grew to include local, county and state investigators from both New Hampshire and Vermont. Information sharing meetings continued, involving investigators from both states.

Through these cooperative efforts, the group developed a comprehensive picture of these crimes and compiled evidence linking several suspects to approximately 100 burglaries in Vermont and New Hampshire as well as several in Massachusetts, four in Maine and one in Virginia. It was learned that the burglaries were generally isolated to small businesses, without alarm systems, in the early hours of the morning between 2AM and 5AM. The suspects would take non-traceable items and such as cash. Entry was usually forced and often through a window.

As a result of the investigation, the below subjects were arrested in connection to the this case on February 4, 2012 for multiple counts of burglary, unlawful mischief, and unlawful trespass and processed at the Rockingham Barracks. More charges are expected to follow. The following four subjects were cited and released on Court ordered conditions and will be arraigned at the Vermont Superior Court in Brattleboro on March 13th

Criscenzo Ruggiero, age 20 of Westminster

Travis Noyes, age 20 of Saxtons River

Lance Thomas, age 18 of Rockingham

Christopher Goldschmidt, age 18 of Athens

The following subjects are wanted in Vermont in connection to these crimes and arrest warrants are being sought for multiple counts of burglary, unlawful mischief, and unlawful trespass. They are currently in custody in New Hampshire on charges related to New Hampshire burglaries.

Cody Loewe, 20 years old, last known address of Bellows Falls, VT

Dillon Lange, 20 years old of Alstead NH

The final subject, Logan Critchfield, 21 years old of Walpole NH, is also wanted in connection to these crimes and an arrest warrant is being sought for multiple counts of burglary, unlawful mischief, and unlawful trespass. His location is unknown. The Vermont State Police encourage anyone with information on his whereabouts, to call 802-875-2112.

The victims of these crimes, while may never see their possessions returned, showed courage and conviction when coming forward to report these crimes and for enduring countless hours of interviews while evidence and information was gathered by investigators. Their assistance is invaluable and is greatly appreciated by law enforcement officials. Without their efforts, we may not have been able to piece together these crimes and suspects.

These crimes were resolved through the cooperative efforts of many local, county and State law enforcement officers. While the scale of this cooperation in this event is noteworthy, the concept is far from unusual. Cooperation between patrol officers, deputy sheriffs and state troopers is the rule in rural law enforcement, not the exception.

Anyone with information relating to these crimes, please call the Vermont State Police, Rockingham Barracks at 802-875-2112.

Investigations are still is on-going, far reaching, and new crimes are linked every week. For media questions, please contact the Vermont State Police Public Information Officer, Stephanie Dasaro, at 802-279-9773.

Agencies involved in investigation:

Vermont Agencies

VSP Rockingham

VSP Brattleboro

VSP Rutland

VSP Bradford

St. Johnsbury Police Department

Windham County Sheriff’s Department

Brattleboro Police Department

Springfield Police Department

Bellows Falls Police Department

Hartford Police Department

Vernon Police Department

 New Hampshire Agencies

New Hampshire  State Police, Troop C

Walpole Police Department

Lebanon Police Department

Canaan Police Department

Alstead Police Department

Charlestown Police Department

Cheshire County Sheriff’s Department

Chesterfield Police Department

Claremont Police Department

Sunapee Police Department

Hanover Police Department

Walpole Police Department

Massachusetts Agencies

Mass State Police

Deerfield Police Department

Bernardston Police Department

 Maine State Police

Virginia Beach Police Department

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 Stephanie Dasaro | Vermont State Police - Public Information Officer

103 South Main Street | Waterbury, Vermont 05671

802-241-5277 (desk) | 802-279-9773 (cell)

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