Utica Man Arrested for Larceny From Special Needs Victim at Consumer Square in New Hartford

On Saturday, June 20, 2026, at approximately 12:23 p.m., officers with the New Hartford Police Department responded to a report of a larceny from a vehicle in the parking lot of Consumer Square on Commercial Drive.

Arrest made of Suspect in Larceny from Special Needs Victim.

On Saturday, June 20, 2026, at approximately 12:23 p.m., officers responded to a report of a larceny from a vehicle in the parking lot of Consumer Square, on Commercial Dr.

The reporting person explained to arriving New Hartford Police Officers that he had briefly left his adult son, who has mobility impairments and who uses a wheelchair, inside a parked vehicle while he briefly entered a nearby business. Upon returning, he was informed by his son that an unknown adult male had approached the vehicle and reached through an open window, removing a gold chain necklace from the center console before running off on foot. The complainant and victim provided a description of the suspect and advised that the suspect arrived with a female companion and a young child and may still be in the immediate area.

Due to the quick response by New Hartford Police Officers in the area, police were able to immediately begin to conduct a search of the surrounding areas. While doing so Police Officers located an individual matching the provided description inside a nearby retail store who began to try and hide himself from Police when Officers approached. After further investigation New Hartford Police have charged Gino Placanica, age 29 of Utica, with the following crimes:

NYS PL 155.25 – Petit Larceny, a Class A Misdemeanor.

NYS PL 260.25(1) - Endangering the Welfare of Physically Disabled Person, a Class E Felony.

While processing Placanica on the above charges, it was discovered that Placanica is currently under the Supervision of The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision – Division of State Parole. New Hartford Police worked with State Parole Officials who were able to quickly issue a Parole Revocation Warrant for Placanica due to this incident.

Placanica was able to be held at this time in The Oneida County Jail on the Parole Warrant. Placanica is on Parole stemming from a Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance Conviction.