The Midnight Break-In at Attica Wine & Spirits: A Simple Breakdown of What Happened

What Happened That Night

Imagine it’s 1:10 a.m. on a Wednesday. The streets of Attica, New York, are quiet. Most people are asleep. But at Attica Wine & Spirits, something loud wakes up the neighborhood.

Here is the step-by-step story of what happened, just like a movie scene:

1. The Break-In: A man named Nathaniel Salverson walks up to the store. He picks up a cinder block (a heavy concrete brick) and smashes the front glass door.
2. The Alarm: The noise is deafening. The store’s security alarm starts blaring loudly.
3. The Witness: A tenant living upstairs hears the "loud bang" and the alarm. They immediately call the store owner, John Perry.
4. The Owner Responds: Perry gets the call, grabs his handgun (for protection), and drives straight to the store.
5. Police Arrive: Within seconds of Perry pulling up, the Attica Police Department arrives on the scene.
6. Clearing the Building: Perry and the police officers enter the store together with their guns drawn. They don’t know if the burglar is still inside hiding. They search the building and find it empty.
7. Checking the Tape: Perry checks the surveillance cameras. He sees exactly what happened: The alarm was so loud and shocking that the burglar panicked. He didn’t stay to steal much. He just grabbed the first bottle he saw off the shelf and ran away.
8. The Escape: The man ran about 50 yards (half a football field) down the street. He didn’t even keep the bottle—he left it sitting in the entrance way of another building.

Important Point: The Power of a Loud Alarm
The store owner believes the loud alarm is the only reason the burglar didn’t steal more or hurt anyone. The noise scared him so much he dropped the loot and ran. Sometimes, the best security is just making a lot of noise!

Who Is the Suspect?

The police didn’t have to look far for long. They arrested Nathan Salverson (also spelled Nathaniel) on Thursday morning.

The Charges

He was charged with four crimes. Here is what those big legal words mean in plain English:

• Burglary: Breaking into a building illegally with the plan to commit a crime inside (like stealing).
• Criminal Mischief: Purposely damaging someone else’s property (smashing the door with the cinder block).
• Petit Larceny: Stealing something worth a smaller amount of money (just one bottle).
• Possession of Burglar’s Tools: Having tools meant for breaking in (the cinder block counts as a tool here).

The Shocking History

Here is the part that upset the store owner the most: This was Salverson’s 8th arrest of the year.

That means the police had caught him for crimes seven other times just in 2024 alone.

Released Right Away

After seeing a judge (a process called arraignment), Salverson was released. He did not have to stay in jail while waiting for his trial.

The Cost of the Damage

Even though the burglar only got away with one bottle (which he left behind), the store owner is stuck with a big bill.

• Broken Glass: The front door was shattered.
• Estimated Cost: Over $1,000 to replace the glass.
• The Reality: Perry says he will likely never get that money back from the burglar. He calls it a "cost of doing business." That means he has to pay for it himself just to keep his store open.

The Owner’s Frustration: "No Repercussions"

John Perry is angry, but not just at the burglar. He is angry at the system, specifically something called Bail Reform.

What is Bail Reform? (ELI5 Version)

Think of "Bail" like a deposit.
In the old system: If you got arrested, you had to pay money (bail) to get out of jail while you waited for your trial. If you didn’t have money, you stayed in jail.

Bail Reform changed this. Now, for many crimes (like this burglary), judges cannot set money bail. The person is automatically released with a promise to come back to court later.

Perry’s Argument

Perry says: "These criminals know that they can do this type of thing and there’s no repercussions. They get arraigned and they get released, they get arraigned, they get released."

He feels that because Salverson has been arrested 8 times this year and keeps getting released, there is no consequence stopping him from doing it again.

Summary

• Who: Nathaniel Salverson broke into Attica Wine & Spirits using a cinder block.
• When: Wednesday, just before 1:10 a.m.
• What Happened: The loud alarm scared him. He grabbed one bottle, ran 50 yards, and dropped it.
• Response: Owner John Perry and police arrived within seconds, entered with guns drawn, found the store empty.
• Arrest: Salverson was caught Thursday and charged with 4 crimes (Burglary, Criminal Mischief, Petit Larceny, Possession of Burglar’s Tools).
• History: This was his 8th arrest in 2024.
• Outcome: He was released after arraignment due to bail reform laws.
• Cost: Owner faces $1,000+ in damages he likely won’t recover.
• Debate: The owner blames bail reform for allowing repeat offenders back on the street immediately.

FAQ: Your Questions Answered

1. Did the burglar get away with any alcohol?

No. The surveillance video shows he grabbed one bottle, but he was so scared by the alarm that he dropped it in a doorway down the street about 50 yards away. He left with nothing.

2. Why did the owner bring a gun?

John Perry didn’t know if the burglar was still inside the building, possibly armed or dangerous. He brought his legally owned handgun for self-protection while he waited for police. The police also had their guns drawn for safety when they entered the unknown building together.

3. What does "Petit Larceny" mean?

It’s a legal term for stealing property worth a relatively low value (in New York, usually under $1,000). Since he only took one bottle, it fits this category. "Grand Larceny" is for stealing more expensive things.

4. If this was his 8th arrest, why wasn’t he kept in jail?

Under New York’s Bail Reform laws (passed in 2019/2020), judges are not allowed to set cash bail for most misdemeanors and non-violent felonies (like this burglary charge). The law requires the judge to release the person with a ticket to appear in court later, regardless of how many times they have been arrested before.

5. Who pays for the broken door?

The store owner, John Perry. Even though the burglar caused the damage, the burglar likely doesn’t have $1,000 to pay for it. Unless the owner has specific insurance that covers this (which often has a high deductible), the business owner pays out of pocket. Perry calls this a "cost of doing business."