Police arrest four in copper wire thefts; investigate connection to larceny reports
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

Amherst police have arrested four people in connection with larcenies of copper wiring throughout much of Western New York.

Assistant Chief John Askey said the department is estimating that $50,000 worth of tools, electronic components and wiring are connected to the arrests.

The arrests unfolded on April 4 when Officer John Fiore stopped a vehicle on Millersport Highway for following another vehicle too closely and having a loud muffler. The vehicle being followed was later investigated and connected to the case.

"The (first) vehicle was stopped outside the Verizon (store), and we gained information leading to an attempt to break into Verizon," Capt. Timothy Green said.

Amy L. Block, 28, and Daniel Harzynski, 18, both of Riverdale Avenue in Tonawanda, were questioned and charged.

Police searched the car and found tools and electronic components such as wire cutters and some copper wiring.

Investigations into the case are ongoing. Several construction sites within Amherst were targeted recently.

Block, who was driving with a suspended license, was charged with possession of burglary tools, attempted criminal trespassing, conspiracy, criminal possession of stolen property, attempted grand larceny and unlawful possession of radio devices. Harzynski was charged with the same counts.

Askey said the team had been using Walkie Talkies to track police calls.

"Through information obtained we tracked the two individuals in the first vehicle," Askey said.

Police arrived at a Mang Avenue address in Kenmore where two additional arrests were made in connection to the theft of copper wiring.

Gary W. Woods, 42, of Mang Avenue, and Tania A. Harzynski, 48, of the Riverdale Avenue address, were both arrested. Tania is the mother of Daniel Harzynski.

Woods and Tania Harzynski were both charged with conspiracy, attempted grand larceny, and possession of radio devices. Tania, in addition, was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Askey said more charges are pending.

Following initial investigations police obtained search warrants for the Mang Avenue and Riverdale Avenue residences, which took place on April 4.

"We recovered wire casing, several thousand dollars of tools, electronic components and copper wiring," Askey said.

Amherst police suspect the four arrests are connected to several crimes in surrounding jurisdictions.

Green said police are estimating that three van loads of stolen property have been discovered. Because materials were found in other jurisdictions the additional charges are still pending.

He added that most of the wire had already been removed, but police are investigating the tools and casings left in the residences.

The case extended into Buffalo as Amherst police recovered property belonging to a Buffalo resident.