NJ Teen And 2 Others Broke Into NY Amusement Park, Swiped 200 Stuffed Animals: Police

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Police in New York State have arrested a 19-year-old Wyckoff teen and are searching for two others whom they say took a boat, floated to Rye Playland, and made off with 200 stuffed animals.

Anthony Conkling, 19, of Wyckoff, surrendered to Westchester County, N.Y. detectives on Thursday, police announced on Friday. He was charged with burglary, criminal mischief, criminal trespass, and petit larceny.

Police say a 19-year-old and 20-year-old man, also from New Jersey, have been identified in the incident and are expected to surrender soon.

Police said that the three men entered Rye Playland amusement park, located along Long Island Sound, in the overnight hours of Sept. 23 to 24 and committed acts of theft and vandalism.

"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 in a statement on Friday.

Police say that the trio:

• 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.

The damage caused to property at Playland is estimated at $57,000, police said.

The boat they used was apparently taken from, and returned undamaged to, a boat club in Connecticut, police said.

Conkling was arraigned in Rye City Court on Thursday and released on his own recognizance, police said. He is due back in court on Nov. 25.

Police posted a series of revealing photos of the trio sneaking through the amusement park, which drew amused comments from observers. The photo of two men with large bags of stuffed animals (above) resulted in people asking if it was "two princesses dancing."

"Multiple tips were received from the public as a result of social media shares and media coverage of this incident," police said Friday.

Patch will post an update when the other men are identified.