Local investigators are hopeful that the man responsible for two smash-and-grab burglaries at convenience stores the night of April 25 is in custody.
James Trala, 26, of Buffalo, has not been charged locally yet, but Investigator Kris Kautz, Sheriff's Office, and Detective Pat Corona, Batavia PD, think Trala might be their man.
Trala was arrested by Amherst PD for alleged drunken driving. He was stopped at 1:30 a.m., only a short time after a glass break alarm was set off at a convenience store in Amherst.
Officers recognized the description of Trala's vehicle and put the pieces together that he might be connected to their own smash-and-grab burglary.
Trala has been charged in Erie County with felony DWI, burglary, 3rd, grand larceny, 4th, criminal mischief, 3rd, aggravated unlicensed operation, 1st, as well as a host of misdemeanors and citations.
Kautz and Corona are still putting their cases together for possible charges in Genesee County, but they suspect he is the person who broke through glass doors at the West Main Mini-Mart, 3845 W. Main Street Road, and at Raceway Mini-Mart, 629 E. Main St., Batavia.
The perpetrator fled off with a cash register and cartons of cigarettes.
Trala has prior arrests in Batavia and is thought to be familiar with the area.
