Passaic County Man, 2 NJ Teens Broke Into Amusement Park, Stole Stuffed Animals: Police

PASSAIC COUNTY, NJ — A Pompton Lakes man was arrested Wednesday in an incident in which he and two teens broke into a New York amusement park, caused $57,000 in damage, and fled with 200 stuffed animals, police said Wednesday.

Connor Evancho, 20, of Pompton Lakes turned himself in to Westchester County Police on Wednesday and Daniel Bracco, 19, of Oakland, N.J., turned himself in on Monday, police said Wednesday.

They, along with Anthony Conkling, 19, of Wyckoff, have been charged with two felonies in the September incident, as well as two misdemeanors, police said Wednesday. After being charged, each has been released from Rye City Court to await a court date, police said Wednesday.

Police say the three men took a boat from Connecticut and headed to Rye Playland amusement park, on Long Island Sound, in the overnight hours of Sept. 23 to 24.

"It is alleged that the trio arrived on the Playland beach in a small boat shortly before midnight on Sept. 23 and climbed a fence to enter the amusement area," police said Wednesday.

Police said they committed the following acts:

• Vandalized an electrical room, cutting or ripping out fiber optic cables for phone and internet service;

• Stole 200 stuffed animals, which they hauled away in garbage bags; and,

• Attempted to throw a photo booth off the boardwalk but were unable to do so.

They were charged specifically with third-degree burglary and second-degree criminal mischief, which are felonies, along with criminal trespass and petit larceny, police said.

Police had posted photos of the men on social media, which drew amused responses from commenters. But the photos also helped in the investigation, police said.

"The County Police would like to thank the public for its assistance in this investigation," they said. "Multiple tips were received from the public as a result of social media shares and media coverage of this incident."