State Police arrested two men connected to a string of 15 burglaries across Western New York since January. The Bureau of Criminal Investigation out of SP Lockport charged Michael E. Tomaka, 39, of Buffalo, and Cody M. Canterbury, 27, of Derby, following a two-month investigation.
Tomaka was arrested on April 22 for criminal possession of a weapon 2nd degree, burglary 3rd degree, criminal mischief 2nd degree, and grand larceny 3rd degree. Canterbury was arrested the next day on similar charges, along with conspiracy 5th degree.
Investigators first began looking into the case after a February 12 burglary report at the Magic Mist Car Wash in Lockport. Their efforts linked Tomaka and Canterbury to a series of incidents at car washes, storage units, and churches throughout Erie, Niagara, and surrounding counties.
The burglaries spanned from January 2 at the Chaffee Car Wash and Mini in Sardinia to an April 18 break-in at Eden United Methodist Church. On April 18, authorities executed search warrants at multiple locations, recovering more than 60 stolen items. Tomaka was also found with a loaded handgun.
Both men were processed and transported to the Niagara County Jail for centralized arraignment.
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