Loaded guns stolen from ex-chief’s vehicle

Police hope to quickly recover two loaded guns that were stolen from a former town police chief’s unlocked vehicle, which was parked in the driveway of his Latham Circle home in the village, Saugerties Police Chief Joseph Sinagra said Thursday.

“My primary concern is to get these off the street before somebody gets hurt,” Sinagra said.

Sometime Wednesday night or early Thursday, a loaded .380-caliber semiautomatic handgun and a loaded .38-caliber revolver, which were in a black Swiss Army backpack, were stolen from former Chief Gregory M. Hulbert’s vehicle. Also in the stolen backpack were additional ammunition, Hulbert’s police identification card and retired chief’s badge, his security ID card and a pis-

tol permit, Sinagra said.

Sinagra said the guns belonged to Hulbert.

Hulbert was a member of the town of Saugerties Police Department for 30 years, became its chief in 1991 and retired in 2008. The town and village of Saugerties had separate police departments at the time; they now have one.

Hulbert could not be reached for comment Thursday.

In addition to the theft from Hulbert’s vehicle, Saugerties police are investigating thefts from nine vehicles in the village since Tuesday night, Sinagra said.

“You have to lock your vehicle,” he said. “We have not had one larceny where somebody broke into a vehicle.”

All the unlocked vehicles were entered during the overnight hours and were “rummaged through,” according to a police department press release.

Anyone with information about any of the larcenies or the whereabouts of the stolen guns is asked to call the Saugerties Police Department at (845) 246-9800. All calls will be kept confidential.