Caught by His Own Bag: Utica Burglar Leaves Behind Clue That Leads to Arrest

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UTICA, NY — On May 8th, 2025, Utica Police responded to a business on the 500 block of Court Street after reports of a burglary that was as bizarre as it was bold. According to the victim, an unknown suspect broke into the establishment, helped himself to the food inside, and then made off with an undisclosed amount of cash.

The case was quickly picked up by the Criminal Investigation Division. With help from the Mohawk Valley Crime Analysis Center and the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, detectives used surveillance footage to identify the suspect.

Fast forward to July 7th, when Utica Police were once again called to investigate a burglary, this time at a home on the 700 block of Culver Avenue. The suspect had broken into the residence and stolen personal property. But in a surprising twist, investigators found a bag left behind in the driveway containing paperwork that directly linked it to the same individual wanted in the earlier Court Street burglary.

Detectives contacted the suspect, 29-year-old Jerrell Howard, who has no known address, multiple times and even arranged for him to voluntarily turn himself in. But when he failed to show up, a BOLO (Be On the Lookout) alert was issued. Patrol officers swiftly located Howard and took him into custody without further incident.

Howard now faces the following charges:

▪︎ Burglary in the Third Degree

▪︎ Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree

▪︎ Two Counts of Petit Larceny