Two Arrested in Burglary at Former Cambridge Hospital
Police say two men were charged after being caught stealing tools and materials from the closed Mary McClellan Hospital in Cambridge, New York.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Property Crime
The Cambridge-Greenwich Police Department arrested two people on Wednesday in connection with a burglary at the former Mary McClellan Hospital in Cambridge, N.Y. One individual was allegedly found inside the building trying to take tools and materials, and a second was taken into custody nearby with help from the Washington County Sheriff's Office.
Why it matters
The department had been monitoring the former hospital after repeated complaints of trespassing, burglaries and thefts. The arrests address a recurring problem at a vacant property in the community.
Matthew Brady faces a felony charge of third-degree burglary plus fifth-degree conspiracy, possession of burglar's tools and attempted petit larceny. Daniel Murphy faces a felony charge of third-degree attempted burglary plus fifth-degree conspiracy and possession of burglar's tools.
The players
Cambridge-Greenwich Police Department
The local police agency serving the Cambridge and Greenwich area of Washington County, New York, which conducted the patrols and arrests.
Washington County Sheriff's Office
The county law enforcement agency that assisted in taking the second suspect into custody near the former hospital.
The details
Officers on patrol caught the first individual inside the former hospital without permission, with tools and materials gathered for removal. Investigators then identified and arrested a second person believed to be involved. The Mary McClellan Hospital, which opened in 1919, closed in 2003 after a drop in patient census and rising costs of care.
Timeline
2003: Mary McClellan Hospital closed after a decrease in patient census and an increase in cost of care.
Wednesday, November 4, 2026: Two individuals arrested in the burglary investigation.
Legal Context
The charges follow the closure of the Mary McClellan Hospital in 2003, after which the vacant building became a repeated target for trespassing and theft. Cases like this one show how abandoned institutional properties can draw ongoing police attention long after they stop operating.
Residents near the former hospital may see continued police monitoring of the property as the department investigates reports of suspicious activity. Neighbors and local businesses should report any trespassing or suspicious activity around vacant buildings to police.
The takeaway
Vacant buildings can remain a target for theft and trespassing long after they close, and sustained monitoring by local police is one way communities respond. Reporting suspicious activity promptly helps authorities act before property losses grow.
Further reading
For more on similar cases, see Property Crime coverage in Cambridge.
