Man Arrested in $200,000 Heist from Avon Dealership

A Buffalo man, Richard E. Lucas, 20 was arrested on felony level charges for stealing two high-end sports cars from an Avon dealership on Interstate Drive in the Town of Avon in a burglary that occurred on the night of March 21-22.

After Sheriff’s deputies arrived on the morning of March 22, they were able to track one of the stolen vehicles to the Town of Lackawanna, where it was parked at a hotel. The Lackawanna Police department and the Sheriff’s investigators and members of the Forensic Identification Unit secured the vehicle to be processed as evidence.  The investigators also received information that the second car might be at a garage in Buffalo.  When the Buffalo police department located the vehicle, the also took into custody two suspects and charged them with felony Criminal Possession of Stolen Property.

The two were quickly ruled out as the burglars, but were able to identify Richard E. Lucas III as the suspected burglar, who was already in custody of the West Seneca Police Department on April 5.  Lucas was arrested  and charged with two counts of Grand Larceny second degree, Burglary in the Third Degree, Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree, and criminal Mischief in the third degree, all in reference to the Avon dealership burglary. Lucas was turned over to the Central Booking Deputies at the Livingston Count Jail for arrest processing and pre-arraignment detention.

Lucas appeared before West Sparta Judge Mahany, who released Lucas to his own recognizance to return to court at a later date, since the charges do not qualify for bail under the New York State Bail Reform laws. Lucas was represented in cort by the Livingston County Public Defender’s Office, with the District Attorney being notified, but who did not appear to represent the People.

The investigation was handled by members of the Patrol Division, Criminal Investigations Division, and Forensic Identification Unit (FIU). Also assisting with the investigation were members of the West Seneca Police Department, Lackawanna Police Department, Amherst Police Department, Buffalo Police Department, and the Monroe County Crime Analysis Center.

Livingston County Sheriff Thomas Dougherty issued a statement following the arrest and release: “Unfortunately the game of catch and release continues across New York State due to poorly vetted and passed laws by Albany politicians….. If lawmakers feel it appropriate that a criminal can break into a business in the darkness of night, cause damage to said building and steal $200,000 worth of high end vehicles and then walk away from the arrest with a pinky promise to return to court, I sure hope they feel that same way when they are the one victimized by these emboldened criminals. We must return common sense to the criminal justice system and enact good policy from beginning to end, regardless of rich or poor, with the safety and security of all law-abiding New Yorkers as top priority.”