Auburn police say that two men involved in a burglary at a downtown business were caught because, while they had cut the power to most of the store's security cameras, they failed to notice the one that recorded the caper.

When three local businessmen believed a string of burglaries targeting their Auburn business was an inside job, they hid a videocamera inside a Christmas tree and waited to see what they might see.

“We found out they were coming in through a lower level door where there was no (security) camera and were cutting the power to the whole building,” said Gordon Bowles, the store manager of Quality Rentals on Genesee Street.

“I told my bosses I believed I could solve the crime for a $1.99 with a rented camera, a TV and motion-activated lights. I hooked the camera to the TV and hid it in the Christmas tree we had down there, turned on the lights and just waited for them to come back.”

When Bowles discovered the first $610 missing on Sept. 20, he believed he would be suspected of being the thief because he had only been working at Quality Rentals for about one month.

“I almost feel like these guys were trying to frame me. With me being the new employee, I felt all eyes were on me,” Bowles said. “At first my bosses kind of brushed it under the rug, but I said this was a big deal and that I did not do it.”

Jay Kilmer, a co-owner of the business with Joe Catalfano, said he never doubted Bowles' integrity, but he knew it had to be an inside job.

Auburn Police Detective Doug Parker said the suspects had evaded detection, knew where the money was stored and knew what days had heavy traffic.

“They turned off the power, they turned off the security cameras, they knew the alarm codes, and they turned everything back on when they left,” Kilmer said. “After they stole $2,300 from us the second time, we decided to set up our own sting operation.”

With the hidden camera tucked away in the tree, the only thing left to do was place the bait, Bowles said.

“I started telling people who could have done it that Jay and Joe were on a trip and that we had a large amount of money waiting to be deposited because of some strong business,” Bowles said.

He told some employees that there was a lot of money sitting in a drawer and that he had no one to take it to the bank for him.

“I left that day at about 7:15,” he said, “and someone showed up at 7:30.”

Police have accused Dale Cuddeback, 30, of Auburn, of being the man captured on camera. John Donovan, 32, of Auburn, is accused of acting as a lookout for Cuddeback.

Cuddeback was a former employee who was fired and Donovan was a four-year employee who had recently transferred to one of Kilmer's other businesses, Kilmer said.

“We got real lucky. Not only did we get Dale on the video, but we got him talking to Donovan on his cell phone who was just outside acting is a lookout,” Kilmer said. “They have very distinctive voices and we got it all. We practically handed this to the police on a silver platter.”

While Donovan has been charged with felony third-degree burglary, and Cuddeback has been charged with misdemeanor attempted petit larceny in addition to felony third-degree burglary for the Nov. 3 crime, Parker said the police were still conducting an investigation into the prior burglaries.

While it stung to find out that a close friend and a former employee would take advantage of him, Kilmer said, it felt good to help Bowles solve the case.

“You see (Cuddeback) walk in and the motion lights turn on,” Kilmer said. “He kind of stops, looks around, then walks right up to the camera talking to Donovan on the phone as he puts on some gloves ... It was very gratifying to catch them. I feel this sends a clear message that there are business owners who won't put up with people doing this. It might cost some time and money, but we will get you.”

Police request that anyone with any information pertaining to this case, call detectives at 255-4706.

Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net