Father, son nabbed in alleged tombstone theft

A father and son have been arrested, accused of stealing several thousand pounds worth of tombstones this past weekend from a Colonie granite company.

Demetrius Lanier, 35, of Albany, and Shateek Lanier, 19, of Troy, are charged with felony criminal possession of stolen property and misdemeanor possession of burglar tools.

Colonie Police say the men stole about $6,000 worth of monuments from Stefanazzi & Spargo Granite Co. on Route 9.

The Laniers were arrested when police received a call at around 1 a.m. Sunday regarding a suspicious vehicle; police pulled over the Laniers in their rented moving truck and found the granite tombstones and the tools.

The men did not tell police what they planned to do with the granite. They were sent to Albany County Jail without bail this morning.