NORWICH – The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office brought 21 different open investigations – involving two dozen victims and approximately 60 pieces of stolen property worth more than $9,000 – to a close earlier this month with the arrest of two young men.

Sgt. Detective Richard Cobb said the incidents began around Sept. 1 with a rash of thefts from vehicles. The thefts continued until about a week before the two defendants were arrested on Oct. 14.

Deputies have charged 17-year-old Samuel J. Ackerman of Valley View Trailer Park and 20-year-old Nicholas L. Buccelli of Canaswacta Street, Norwich, each with 18 counts of petit larceny, six counts of fourth degree conspiracy, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and two counts of felony grand larceny.

The teen’s name was released because he is charged with a felony as an adult.

Police believe the two are responsible for a crime spree that lasted about a month and that the defendants engaged in the crimes on 10 to 15 different days during that period.

“Basically every couple of days, every other day actually, and sometimes several nights in a row, these gentlemen were committing these crimes,” said Cobb.

Buccelli and Ackerman allegedly traveled to the towns of Norwich, North Norwich and Plymouth in search of unlocked cars containing any items of value. “If the doors were locked, they just moved to the next,” Cobb said.

Detective Gerald Parry said many of the items taken included anything of portable value, such as GPS systems, CDs, cell phones, cash, iPods, purses and wallets.