Man convicted in Niskayuna home invasion

A man has been found guilty of a home invasion and robbery in Niskayuna.

c, 25, was convicted on Friday of burglary and two counts of attempted robbery after an eight-day jury trial.

Vanhoesen and another man broke into an apartment at Hillcrest Village on Jan 31, 2023 around 12:15 p.m., according to the Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office.

The pair tricked the occupants into opening the door by saying they had a package for delivery. They then rushed in, displaying what appeared to be a handgun and demanded money. They hit the head of one victim and pointed the gun at all the victims. They wore black masks and had zip ties. 

The two men realized they had invaded the wrong apartment. They ran out of the apartment and left the family of a mother and two adult children in fear for their lives, according to prosecutors.

Video surveillance tracked Vanhoesen’s movements and his attempts to disguise himself.

Vanhoesen is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 31, 2025 in Schenectady County Court. He faces up to 25 years in prison as a predicate violent felon. He has a previous conviction in 2018 for criminal possession of a weapon. He received 5 years in prison for shooting a woman in the leg.