Buffalo man admits to 3 burglaries in 4 months

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- A Buffalo man pleaded guilty Monday afternoon to three counts of burglary, among other charges, after he repeatedly stole from the Walden Galleria, according to the Erie County District Attorney's Office.

Between mid-January and mid-April 2023, 60-year-old Gary White, also known as Gary Johnson, allegedly burglarized the Cheektowaga mall on three separate occasions.

On Jan. 16, White violated a no trespass order issued after a prior shoplifting incident to steal a large quantity of merchandise from a department store, officials said.

Exactly a week later, White returned to the same department store and allegedly stole over $5,000 worth of sweatshirts, hoodies and jackets. The merchandise was recovered in the parking lot.

On April 20, it is alleged that stolen merchandise from multiple Walden Galleria retailers were found inside of White's bag by Cheektowaga police.

White pleaded guilty to the following:

• three counts, third-degree burglary
• third-degree grand larceny
• fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property
• petit larceny

He faces a maximum of seven years in prison when he is sentenced next month and remains held without bail.