South Bristol, N.Y. --- Along Canandaigua’s lakefront neighbors don’t see much crime; then again, this is a crime that isn’t seen much anywhere. New York State Police have arrested Todd Blauvelt, 18, and charged him with 2nd Degree Burglary after they found him living in a multi-million dollar home that wasn’t his.
"It's kind of surprising because we live in an area where we really, I would say, we don't have crime down here so it's pretty surprising to hear about somebody trying to break in and live in somebody's house," Deirdre Crofton, a lakefront property owner said.
Investigator Mark Eifert tells 13WHAM News that Blauvelt convinced his girlfriend and her parents that he had inherited this home from a deceased grandfather who but that his father refused to give him the house key. Other witnesses have informed police that this story was used with them while Blauvelt searched near the home for a hidden house key.
Once Blauvelt found the key to this 6,000 square-foot mansion he made copies of it and within a couple hours entered the home with his girlfriend, her parents, and a sibling of hers according to Investigator Eifert. A short time later the owner of this seasonal home showed up to find this family in his living room and according to state police Blauvelt stuck to his inheritance story and signed a written statement describing it.
He was then also charged with providing a false written statement, a misdemeanor.
"There are a lot of strange people in this world who are pretty creative I guess on their stories,” Crofton said upon learning of the alleged details. “I guess they feel they can get away with it."
"Million dollar home, wow!” Keith Barton, a school crossing guard in Naples said when he heard the story. “It's unbelievable what these kids do, if I did something like that my dad would bust my behind!"
Barton is among those in the South Bristol and Naples area who have known Todd Blauvelt for a number of years.
"Yes sir, he goes by T.J. and he's a well-known young man. He loves trouble I guess and I've been trying to steer him right for a long time," Barton said. "I see some good in there he just needs to be lead the right way instead of astray."
Blauvelt is now in Ontario County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail and police tell 13WHAM News that his alleged crimes took place in May. While he was charged and arraigned Tuesday police say Blauvelt was already in custody because he faces charges of sexual misconduct and endangering the welfare of a child.
Those charges are because his girlfriend is a minor who just turned 15 years-old.
