West Warwick ATM Thief Cops To Multi-State Crime Spree

SYRACUSE, NY — A West Warwick man pleaded guilty Thursday to stealing thousands of dollars from ATMs in a multi-state crime spree.

David DeGrasse, 54, faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced i November.

According to his guilty plea, DeGrasse set off from his West Warwick home on his criminal caper in a Jeep Cherokee, heading for Upstate New York on April 26, 2023.

Prior to departing, DeGrasse "conducted internet research on the Stewart's Shops gas station and convenience store" in Hillsdale, New York, his plea agreement said, as well as the Dunkin' in Catskill, New York.

About 12:30 a.m. the next day, DeGrasse cut the telecommunications lines to the Stewart's and pried open the door, but was unable to disarm the burglar alarm, so left empty-handed, the plea agreement said.

Surveillance footage showed him "wearing all dark clothing, including a ski mask and gloves," according to the agreement.

DeGrasse then drove to the Catskill Dunkin' where he severed the telecommunication lines, pried open the door and used a reciprocating saw to cut into an ATM to grab $9,300.

On his way back to his West Warwick home with the money, DeGrasse passed through Connecticut, the plea agreement said.

DeGrasse also pulled identical thefts Jan. 23, 2023, at a Walden, New York Dunkin' and Feb. 16, 2023 at a Pine Plains, New York Stewart's, the plea agreement said, making off with $2,800 in the first break-in and $24,000 in the second.

Then, on May 19, 2023, DeGrasse hit the Nine Acre Convenience Store in Concord, Massachusetts, where he cut open the ATM and stole $10,000, according to the agreement, which noted DeGrasse's luck was running out, as he was "observed pulling into his driveway in West Warwick, Rhode Island, later that morning."

"A court-ordered search of the vehicle revealed $1,060; a reciprocating saw; a wire cutter; two pry bars; a dark blue ski mask; black and (gray) gloves; a wig; and a cellphone," the agreement said.

Less than two weeks later, DeGrasse broke into the Bagdad, Kentucky, B&N Food Market, cut open an ATM and stole $4,900, the plea agreement said.

DeGrasse made his guilty plea in the Northern District of New York.