Two Charged in Broad Street Scrap Metal Theft

Utica police say Samantha Cerini and William Wilcox face felony charges after metal and job-site equipment stolen from a Broad Street business were sold as scrap.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Property Crime

Two Charged in Broad Street Scrap Metal Theft

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Utica Police charged Samantha Cerini, 39, and William Wilcox, 45, with third-degree criminal possession of stolen property on November 3 and November 4. Both are listed as having no known address.

Why it matters

The case shows how stolen construction materials can move through local recycling channels, and it highlights the role of property identification and surveillance footage in tracing the goods back to their source. Businesses with job sites in the area face ongoing exposure to this kind of theft.

Samantha Cerini, 39, and William Wilcox, 45, each face one count of third-degree criminal possession of stolen property, a felony under New York law. Charges were filed November 3 and 4, and the case remains in its early procedural stages with no court outcome reported.

The players

Utica Police Department

The municipal police agency for Utica, New York, responsible for investigating local crime and making arrests in the city.

The details

The alleged theft targeted metal and job-site equipment at a business in the 1300 block of Broad Street in late September. Investigators say the materials were transported to a local recycling facility and sold as scrap, and the victims positively identified recovered items as their property.

Late September: Larceny complaint filed after the Broad Street job-site theft.
November 3: Samantha Cerini charged with criminal possession of stolen property.
November 4: William Wilcox charged with criminal possession of stolen property.

Legal Context

The charges fall under New York Penal Law Section 165.45, which makes knowingly possessing stolen property valued above a statutory threshold a felony. Cases like this one, where stolen construction metal is resold to scrap yards, are often prosecuted under that provision because it covers possession regardless of whether the defendant committed the original theft.

Businesses with job sites or outdoor equipment in Utica may want to review how materials are secured and tagged, since identifiable property was key to tracing these goods. Residents who see metal or equipment being sold at scrap facilities without clear ownership can report it to police.

The takeaway

Marking and documenting job-site property makes it far easier for police to link recovered materials to their owners. Businesses that keep serial numbers and photos of equipment give investigators a stronger basis for recovery.