ITHACA, N.Y. – An Ithaca man accused of burglarizing DeWitt Mall earlier this year pleaded guilty to the charge against him in Tompkins County Court on Friday afternoon.
Multiple businesses within the mall, including Cafe DeWitt, Moosewood, and The Bookery, reported damaged and stolen property upon opening their stores on the morning of May 19. Labron J. Furman, 20, was later accused of burglarizing the building, located at 251 North Cayuga Street, overnight.
According to Jack Goldman, owner of The Bookery, the burglar allegedly entered the building through the basement, traveled through the basement corridor and came up the stairs to the ground floor of the mall, which is home to both businesses and residences.
Goldman said he was called into the bookstore after an employee found the front panel of his office desk had been smashed in. He said the cash drawer was accessed through the broken desk and the entirety of the contents had been stolen, amounting to $125 dollars.
Co-owner of Moosewood, Dave Dietrich, said he was also called in when the restaurant was found in disarray that morning. Dietrich said approximately $100 dollars had been stolen from the cash register. While he reported damage to the restaurants safe, Dietrich said the burglar was not able to access the contents.
Related: Multiple businesses report overnight burglaries in DeWitt Mall
According to court documents, Furman acted with another unnamed male suspect to break into the building and allegedly re-positioned security cameras once they were inside.
Furman pleaded guilty to third-degree burglary, which could carry from 2 1/2 to 7 years in jail.
“I am concerned about your future,” said Judge John C. Rowley during Furman’s arraignment on Friday. “Your decisions are going to have much more importance in the future now with a felony charge.”
Furman was released from custody to the probation department on Friday. He is scheduled to reappear in Tompkins County Court for sentencing on September 11.