Schenectady Cracks Down On Corner stores, 5 arrested

Five city men were arrested last week following a year-long investigation into six neighborhood corner stores.  Here is what the corner stores are being accused of according to Times Union:

• Investigators entered each store with merchandise they presented as stolen and then sold to the employees of the corner store, according to a press release by the Schenectady County Sheriff's Office.
•  Investigators also used Electronic Benefit Cards and food stamps to buy prohibited items, such as cigarettes and alcohol, bought untaxed cigarettes and made exchanges for a reduced percentage on the dollar

Seems extremely petty with all of the other things going on in the world but, the sheriff's office said they were motivated to take on the investigation because shoplifting is a common complaint for businesses across the county, resulting in a drain on local police departments.  Okay, so the police decided to investigate the stores because they called them to many times because of shoplifters.

This investigation went on for months and involved several agencies, the Schenectady Police Department, the city Building and Codes Department, State Police, Schenectady County Sheriff's and District Attorney's offices, the county Department of Social Services, the state Office of Tax and Finance and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

8 agencies and 6 months to arrest 5 people, it seems like they really wanted these store employees and owners out of here.