Burglars at Damark’s on Camera

Four Springs men who allegedly teamed up last Thursday night to burglarize Damark’s Deli in East Hampton found themselves under arrest within 24 hours.

The four apparently forgot one of the most basic principles of crime: Make sure no one’s looking. Bruce Damark, whose store has been in his family for three generations, has video cameras installed around its entire perimeter and throughout the interior as well. East Hampton Town detectives, after viewing the videos, rounded up the suspects throughout the day Friday.

Mr. Damark said Monday that four 12-packs of Budweiser beer and about a dozen packs of Marlboro cigarettes had been stolen over the course of two break-ins, the first at 9:30 p.m. and the other three hours later.

Lucus M. Ward, 21, Joshua T. Ryan, 22, and Alec M. Green, 21, were arraigned Saturday morning in East Hampton Town Justice Court before Justice Lisa R. Rana. The fourth man, Brian K. Russell, 20, was taken to Southampton Hospital for “medical evaluation,” said Capt. Chris Anderson, the police spokesman, after spending several hours in a holding cell. Captain Anderson said Mr. Russell was still hospitalized as of Tuesday.

Three of the four men, Mr. Ward, Mr. Ryan, and Mr. Russell, told police they had been drinking beer on the evening of the break-in and picked up Mr. Green about 8:30. Mr. Russell was at the wheel of a pickup truck with Mr. Ryan by his side and the other two men riding in the bed when they passed Damark’s about an hour later. Mr. Russell told police it was his idea to enter the closed store, and he parked the truck nearby on Soak Hides Road.

Mr. Green hesitated. He stayed in the truck, according to Mr. Russell. “Don’t worry, I got this,” Mr. Russell said he told the other three.

Mr. Ward, however, went with him. The two told police they approached the market from the rear.

Mr. Damark showed the video to The East Hampton Star. Two figures can be seen circling the building, trying different doors and windows. The two may have been worried about surveillance, as one man picked up an empty beer case and put it over his head.

On the back deck, the man police said was Mr. Russell found an opening by a door and was able to reach in and unlock it. An alarm went off but he entered the store. Mr. Ward stayed outside, pacing back and forth.

The figure on the tape acts quickly, stuffing the pockets of his black leather jacket with cigarettes. “I only took Marlboro reds, because that is what I like,” Mr. Russell told police. Running out of pocket space, he sticks a pack in hismouth, then grabs two 12-packs of beer and exits. The two run back to the truck and drive off.

At his home in Springs a few miles away, Mr. Damark was alerted by the alarm company. He called a friend who lives near the store, who walked over. The door had closed and self-locked behind the fleeing figure in the video, and the friend saw nothing askew. Mr. Damark then called a trusted employee who also lives near the store. She went inside. Nothing seemed out of place, she told him. Mr. Damark went back to sleep.

Meanwhile, the four in the truck drank some beer and smoked cigarettes. Mr. Ward and Mr. Green eventually left, Mr. Russell told police. He and Mr. Ryan continued drinking and smoking, at one point in a cemetery, and wound up sleeping for a few hours in a backyard, Mr. Russell said. Then they decided to return to Damark’s.

Mr. Russell went in the same way as before, again setting off the alarm. On the video, a figure can be seen grabbing another 12-pack and hurrying out.

This time Mr. Damark went down to the store himself, where he was met by police. By evening, all four men were in custody, charged with felony burglary. Although Mr. Russell, according to his own statement, was the only one who entered the building, the other three are considered under the law to have acted in concert and to be equally culpable.

Justice Rana arraigned Mr. Green first, noting that he had no criminal record and that his mother was present in the courtroom. She set bail at $300. “Mr. Green,” she said, “I strongly suggest you reconsider the people you are hanging around with.”

“Mr. Ryan. We meet again,” said Justice Rana. “When did you get out of jail? You did 90 days.” She reviewed the defendant’s record, which included a violation of probation, a conviction for unlawful fleeing, and a charge of resisting arrest in Glens Falls, N.Y. She set bail at $7,500.

Next came Mr. Ward. “You have an open D.W.I. in Quogue Village,” Justice Rana said. “You have a bench warrant off an assault. What did you plead guilty to in New Jersey? You were supposed to be in court here last Thursday. You’re 21 years old. It is a revolving door for you.”

She was told that he had an appointment later that day with an army recruiter. “You’re not making that appointment,” she said, setting bail at $25,000.

Mr. Green was able to post bail, but Mr. Ward and Mr. Ryan were not, and were being held in the county jail in Riverside as of yesterday. They are scheduled to be returned to Justice Court today, and will be released without bail if an indictment has not been obtained by then, as required by law. Mr. Russell is to be arraigned today if he is out of the hospital.

This was the second time since Mr. Damark installed his $4,000 surveillance system that it has led to an arrest. Soon after its installation, a customer’s $800 bicycle, left outside, was stolen. Videotape revealed that a local youth, after shoplifting a pastry and a Gatorade, had spotted the bike and ridden off on it. The 16-year-old was soon in custody and the bike was returned to its owner.

Mr. Damark said Monday that the area, on Three Mile Harbor Road near Abraham’s Path, was prone to vandalism and occasional thievery. “You can’t even put pumpkins out,” he said.