The latest support for a proposal to expand New York's DNA databank is coming from Cortland. The mayor and police chief, joined by state officials Friday, explained how DNA evidence recently helped solve a burglary and stabbing in the city. Kat De Maria has more.

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CORTLAND, N.Y. -- After thousands of dollars in jewelry went missing from Sheridan's Jewelry on Main Street in Cortland, there wasn't much evidence, except blood from a broken window. The sample went into the national DNA index system and returned a match: Kristopher Thierl.

Cortland's police chief says officers found Thierl already in the county jail on robbery charges. But he was caught because of the DNA taken in the course of other felony charges in Washington State. Thierl pleaded guilty to the burglary and robbery and remains in prison.

Under Governor Andrew Cuomo's proposal to expand New York's DNA Databank, Cortland police wouldn't have had to rely on outside authorities to convict him.

"That would include everything from ag and market felonies to motor vehicle felonies, as well as all of the penal law misdemeanors, which is going to bring a number of new samples into the databank that we wouldn't have had before to compare against all unsolved crimes," said Tina Stanford, director of the New York State Office of Victims Services.

Another case in Cortland saw a suspect deported back to his home in the West Indies following a stabbing on Groton Avenue. A hat had been left at the scene. And following the incident, police say the suspect became part of a rape investigation and gave DNA.

"They were cases that would not have gone anywhere had it not been for the DNA match to evidence collected at the scene," said Cortland Police Chief Michael Catalano.

At a press conference Friday, advocates explained that currently in New York, DNA is required from less than half of people committing crimes and then only the most serious ones. But they say they'd rather not wait for criminals to get that far.

"We know that many felons and violent felons will commit minor crimes either before or after a violent crime. It's not as simple as going out and committing a heinous crime," Catalano said.

Advocates say since the DNA Databank was established 16 years ago, the evidence has helped solve more than 2,700 crimes, including six in Cortland.

"It is going to be a useful tool for police, not just in Cortland, but throughout the state," said Cortland Mayor Brian Tobin.

Advocates say the DNA databank codes its profiles by number, which do not include a name or any other identifying information. Only in the event of a match is the name revealed, through a separate state agency.