Three people allegedly broke into Playland overnight late last month, damaging equipment and stealing hundreds of game prizes, Westchester County Police confirmed.
The incident occurred sometime between Sept. 23 and 24, police announced on Thursday, when the suspects allegedly arrived by boat on the Playland beach just before midnight. Police said the group climbed a fence to enter the amusement park, where they ransacked an electrical room by cutting or ripping out fiber optic cables used for phone and internet service.
They also stole about 200 stuffed animals, hauling them away in garbage bags. The alleged thieves also tried to throw a photo booth off the boardwalk but failed, police said.
Surveillance images released by police show three males, appearing to be in their 20s or early 30s, walking the tracks of a ride on the park’s grounds. One suspect was seen shirtless, while another wore a hooded sweatshirt and sunglasses likely to conceal his identity. The third suspect is seen wearing a blue jacket with no shirt or shoes underneath.
County police are still working to identify the suspects and have also shared photos with other law enforcement agencies in the area. They ask anyone with information to contact the police’s General Investigations Unit.
Additional photos of the suspects will be posted on the County Police’s social media channels, police said.
Playland closed for the season in mid-September, following a tumultuous summer marred by limited ride availability and an ongoing arbitration case between Westchester County and the park’s former operator, Standard Amusements.
