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Suspect held without bail after allegedly trying to steal gun from HLOM

By Howard B. Owens

An Alden man is being held in jail without bail after being accused of trying to steal a historic long gun yesterday from the Holland Land Office Museum, 131 West Main St., Batavia.

An observant witness spotted a person leaving the museum with the long gun hidden under a trench coat and followed the suspect's car, phoning the dispatch center with a license plate number, description and direction of travel.

Taken into custody at the intersection of West Main and Oak streets shortly after 1:30 p.m. was Frank J. Bieniek, 55, of 962 Virginia Drive, Alden.

The gun is valued at more than $3,000.

Bieniek is charged with grand larceny 3rd and criminal possession of stolen property 3rd.

The case was investigated by Officer Matt Flemming and detectives Kevin Czora and Todd Crossett.

Bieniek will be arraigned and receive a bail review in City Court at 11 a.m., Monday.

(initial report)

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