Man accused of living inside school for 2 days, then breaking into department store

WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY) - Authorities are calling it a “Blizzard Burglary Blitz Bust.”

Just after 6 a.m. Tuesday, a Jefferson County sheriff’s deputy responded to an alarm at Runnings in Watertown’s Pioneer Plaza.

The deputy found a pickup truck with a plow parked near a damaged overhead door. Inside, he found the driver, who was later identified as Sean Briggs of Watertown.

The 35-year-old is alleged to have attempted to steal around $8,500 worth of firearms and hunting, trapping, camping, and fishing gear.

Briggs is also accused of stealing the pickup from the General Brown High School in Brownville.

Officials say Briggs broke into the school on Christmas and was staying inside after his car became stuck in a nearby snowbank. They say he may have spent the next two days eating food from a concession stand, cooking in the home economics room, and playing basketball in the gymnasium.

Briggs was charged with two counts of third-degree burglary, one count each of third-degree burglary and third-degree attempted burglary, three counts of third-degree criminal mischief, and one count each of third-degree criminal mischief and possession of burglar’s tools.

He was arraigned in centralized arraignment court and released. He is scheduled to appear in town of Watertown Court on Thursday.