Crime & Safety
Sneaker Thief to Store Security Guard: 'I'll Cut You!'
A Port Chester man's threat to a Kohl's security guard elevated a petty larceny charge to felony larceny.
Police say David Willis didn't take well to a security guard's attempt to stop him when he ran out of wearing a pair of stolen sneakers on Wednesday.
Willis, 41, walked into the Boston Post Road department store at noon, slipped his old sneakers off, donned a new pair of sneakers from the store and headed out past the cashiers, Lt. James Ladeairous said.
When a store security guard tried to stop Willis, the Port Chester man turned around and snapped at him.
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"I'll cut you!" Willis threatened, according to witness statements given to police.
The security guard backed off and dialed police as Willis ran, but Willis didn't get far. After police issued a description of the suspect over the radio, D.A.R.E. Officer Melissa Acocella spotted Willis on South Regent Street and took him into custody.
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Without the threat, Willis would have been charged with petty larceny, a misdemeanor. But the threat elevated the charge to third-degree robbery, a felony.
Willis, of Willow Street, was arraigned and scheduled to return to Port Chester village court.
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