Crime & Safety
'Bordeaux Bandit' Sought by Authorities in Multi-State, High-End Wine Thefts
An expensive wine was reported stolen from a Groton restaurant recently. The suspect allegedly visited other states, looking for libations.
Written By JASON KOESTENBLATT (Patch Staff); originally published on Basking Ridge Patch
Somerset County authorities are searching for a New York man charged with stealing high-end wine from a Bernarsville liquor store in September, and may be behind several other thefts of the same nature in multiple states.
Somerset County Prosecutor Geoffrey Soriano, along with Bernardsville Borough Chief of Police Kevin Valentine announced the charge of shoplifting for Scott Deluca, 25, of Wynantskill, New York.
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Police said that on Sept. 9, Deluca went into the Bernardsville store and shoplifted two bottles of wine valued at $1,858. Deluca then left the store in a dark 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee with the New York “Adirondack” vanity license plate reading “SPA ND.”
Authorities said Deluca is wanted for similar thefts in New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut. Deluca allegedly stole an expensive bottle of 1990 Chateau Petrus from the Octagon Restaurant in Groton. According to Wine.com, a bottle of Chateau Petrus 1990 wine costs $4,799.
Find out what's happening in Grotonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Anyone with information regarding the matter is asked to contact the Bernardsville Police Department Detective Bureau at 908-766-0037, ext. 139.
The Groton Police Department can be reached at 860-441-6712.
Photo Courtesy Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office
Jaimie Cura contributed to this report.
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