Tags Posts tagged with "Burglary"

Burglary

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Suffolk County Police have arrested a man for burglarizing 11 businesses in Centereach, Farmingville and Ronkonkoma since September 2.

Michael Mancuso broke into Deli Pupuseria Salvadoreña, located at 16 Dawn Drive in Centereach, stole a cash register and fled on September 25. Officers arrested Mancuso a short time later.

Following an investigation by Sixth Squad detectives, it was determined Mancuso burglarized 10 other businesses during which he stole a cash register or cash from the following businesses:

  • Aladdin Indian Restaurant, located at 2133 Middle Country Road in Centereach, on September 24
  • Salon La Couture, located at 625 Portion Road in Ronkonkoma, on September 17
  • G&S Spa, located at 840 Portion Road in Ronkonkoma on September 17
  • 7-Eleven, located at 550 Portion Road in Ronkonkoma, on September 17
  • New Exceptional Nails, located at 844 Portion Road in Ronkonkoma, on September 17
  • Kira Sushi, located at 846 Portion Road in Ronkonkoma, on September 17
  • Kristi’s Deli, located at 710 Portion Road in Ronkonkoma, on September 11
  • Paisanos Pizza & Catering, located at 708 Portion Road in Ronkonkoma, on September 11
  • Taco El Primo, located 704 Portion Road in Ronkonkoma, on September 6
  • Los Jarritos Deli, located at 357 Horseblock Road in Farmingville, on September 2Mancuso, 44, of Ronkonkoma, was charged with 11 counts of Burglary 3rd and one count of Petit Larceny.

He was arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on September 26.

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Suffolk County Police arrested a Mastic Beach man for allegedly burglarizing an occupied home that occurred last month.

A man entered a home, located on Whittier Drive in Mastic Beach, on August 26 at approximately 1
a.m. While inside, the man touched a female resident while she slept. She awoke and the man fled.

Following an investigation by Seventh Squad detectives, Davion Commodore, 19, was arrested on Sept. 5 and charged with Burglary 2nd Degree. He was held overnight for arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip on September 6.

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Suffolk County Police arrested a man and two women on June 26 for burglary at a former Dowling College campus in Shirley.

A security guard working at the commercial property located at 1300 William Floyd Parkway noticed an open gate at approximately 3 p.m. Upon closer inspection, he found Michele Brill sitting in a Nissan sedan and then saw Christopher Alaia and Kristle Doughty coming out of a previously secure building.

The guard called 911 and stayed with Brill while the other two attempted to flee. Seventh Precinct Patrol and Crime Section officers arrived at the scene and quickly apprehended Alaia and Doughty. Upon further investigation, burglar tools were found inside of the building.

Seventh Squad detectives charged Alaia, 40, of Ronkonkoma, Doughty, 39, of Bohemia, and Brill, 44, of Selden with one count each of Burglary 3rd Degree. All three are scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on June 27.

 

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Suffolk County Police arrested a Lake Grove man on June 24 for allegedly burglarizing several businesses since May.

Following an investigation by Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Squad detectives, Fourth Squad detectives arrested Joseph Foresto for six commercial burglaries and an attempted burglary that took place between May 18 and June 22. During the burglaries, Foresto allegedly forced entry by throwing objects through a glass door or window to enter the closed businesses.

Foresto, 67, was arrested at his home in Lake Grove at 12:25 p.m. and charged with six counts of Burglary 3rd Degree, one count of Attempted Burglary, and one count of Criminal Mischief for the following incidents:

  • Broke the front door and stole cash from Tates Restaurant, located at 292 Smithtown Blvd. in Nesconset, at 1:22 a.m. on May 18.
  • Broke a door and stole cash from Alberts Pizza, located at 601 Portion Road in Ronkonkoma, sometime overnight on May 18.
  • Broke a window and stole cash from Lake Grove Delicatessen, located at 1003 Hawkins Ave. in Lake Grove, at 3:15 a.m. on May 20.
  • Broke the front door and stole cash from Escape the Room Game Long Island, located at 718 Portion Road in Ronkonkoma, at 1:45 a.m. on June 8.
  • Broke a window and stole cash from Lorenzo’s Pizza, located at 600 Middle Country Road in St. James, at 2:15 a.m. on June 14.
  • Broke the front door and stole cash from Rocco’s Pizza, located at 255 Medford Ave. in East Patchogue, sometime overnight on June 18.
  • Broke a window but was unsuccessful at entering Royal Pizza, located at 299 Hawkins Ave. in Lake Ronkonkoma, at 1:35 a.m. on June 22.

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Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. Photo from Tierney's office

Frank Costa and Jon Pucci Allegedly Set Fire to PSEG Long Island Substations to Facilitate

Their Burglaries of Nearby Commercial Establishments

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Feb. 27 that Frank Costa, 54, of Port Jefferson Station, and Jon Pucci, 29 of Middle Island, were indicted for allegedly committing a series of three arsons and nine commercial burglaries at businesses throughout Suffolk County.

“These alleged criminal acts have not only caused extensive damage, but have also put the lives of Suffolk County residents and first responders at risk,” said District Attorney Tierney. “I thank the Suffolk County Police Department for their thorough investigation of this case. Now, my office will ensure that these defendants are held accountable for their alleged extremely dangerous crimes.”

According to the investigation, between August 20, 2023, and February 9, 2024, Costa and Pucci allegedly burglarized nine businesses and set fires at three PSEG Long Island (“PSEGLI”) substations in Suffolk County. The defendants apparently believed the fires would cause power outages in the local community, which would distract law enforcement while Costa and Pucci committed the burglaries. On February 10, 2024, at approximately 12:00 a.m., Suffolk County Police Department detectives followed Costa and Pucci and placed them under arrest.

While police searched the location, they discovered an ATM that was allegedly stolen from a Shell Gas Station in Ridge the day before. Money from the ATM was allegedly found in the defendants’ pockets after their arrest.

The alleged burglaries occurred on the following dates and locations:

  •   December 11, 2023 – USA Gas, 1146 Middle Country Road, Middle Island.
  •   December 26, 2023 – USA Gas, 1146 Middle Country Road, Middle Island.
  •   December 26, 2023 – BP Gas, 1470 Middle Country Road, Ridge.
  •   December 29, 2023 – Gulf Gas, 240 West Main Street, Smithtown.
  •   December 31, 2023 – BP Gas, 3200 Veterans Memorial Highway, Bohemia.
  •   January 12, 2024 – Ideal Food Basket, 500 Jefferson Plaza, Port Jefferson.
  •   January 12, 2024 – DJM Laundromat, 1 Glenmere Lane, Coram.
  •   January 24, 2024 – Back Country Deli, 70 Horseblock Road, Yaphank.
  •   January 30, 2024 – Kings Park Car Care, 189 Main Street, Kings Park.
  •   February 9, 2024 – Shell Gas Station located at 1511 Middle Country Road, Ridge.
  • Costa and Pucci were each indicted for the following charges:
  •   One count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony;
  •   Nine counts of Burglary in the Third Degree, Class D felonies;
  •   Three counts of Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree, Class D felonies;
  •   One count of Attempted Burglary in the Third Degree, a Class E felony;
  •   One count of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a Class Efelony; and
  •   Three counts of Arson in the Fifth Degree, Class A misdemeanors.

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Suffolk County Police arrested two men on Feb. 10 for allegedly burglarizing ten businesses and allegedly attempting a burglary at another business since July. Following an investigation by Major Case Unit detectives, Frank Costa and Jon Pucci were arrested on Eastwood Boulevard in Centereach for committing the following burglaries during which cash and cigarettes were stolen:

• Shell, located at 1511 Middle Country Road in Ridge, on February 9
• Kings Park Auto Care, located at 189 Main Street in Kings Park, on January 30
• Back Country Deli, located at 70 Horseblock Road in Yaphank, on January 24
• Ideal Food Basket, located at 500 Jefferson Plaza in Port Jefferson, on January 12
• DJM Laundry Services, located at 1 Glenmere Lane in Coram, on January 12
• Citgo, located at 3200 Veterans Memorial Highway in Bohemia, on December 31
• Gulf, located at 240 W. Main St. in Smithtown, on December 29
• BP Gas, located at 1470 Middle Country Road, in Ridge on December 26
• USA Gas, located at 1146 Middle Country Road in Middle Island, on December 11
• Jiffy Lube, located at 5228 Route 347 in Port Jefferson Station, on July 21

They were also charged in connection with an attempted burglary at USA Gas, located at 1146 Middle
Country Road in Middle Island, on December 26.

Costa, 54, of Port Jefferson, and Pucci, 29, of Middle Island, were charged with ten counts of Burglary 3rd Degree and one count of Attempted Burglary 3rd Degree.

 

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Blaise Marckesano

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Nov. 28 that Blaise Marckesano, 38, of Shirley, was sentenced to 1 ½ to 4 ½ years in prison for Robbery in the Third Degree and other charges, after committing a string of catalytic converter thefts, commercial burglaries, and a robbery, throughout Suffolk County.

“Serial recidivists such as this defendant are the reason my office teamed up with our Suffolk County Town Supervisors to create the Quality-of-Life Town Coalition,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Quality of life crimes such as catalytic converter thefts and commercial burglaries seriously impact the safety of Suffolk County residents and businesses alike. These crimes have damaging financial effects to our hard-working residents. I hope this sentence sends the message that my office will continue to vigorously prosecute these crimes.”

According to the investigation and the defendant’s admissions during his guilty plea allocution, between December 11 and December 13, 2021, Marckesano stole six catalytic converters from recreational vehicles that were parked at W.E.S. Trailer Services in Wading River.

Catalytic converters are a part of a vehicle’s exhaust device and use precious metals in their center to reduce pollutants from a vehicle’s engine. These precious metals, which include palladium, platinum, and rhodium can be valuable and make catalytic converters a target for theft.

Marckesano was also involved in a robbery and a string of commercial burglaries in April 2023.

On April 1, 2023, Marckesano pushed a store clerk and forcibly stole beer at a Deli in Shirley. Then, between April 13 and April 25, 2023, Marckesano broke into an American Legion Post in Mastic Beach on two separate occasions and stole approximately $6,000. On April 21, 2023, Marckesano broke into a Home Depot store in Shirley and stole assorted lawn supplies valued at approximately $2,800.

On October 23, 2023, Marckesano pleaded guilty before Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Richard I. Horowitz, to the following charges:

 One count of Robbery in the Third Degree; a Class D felony;

 Three counts of Burglary in the Third Degree, a Class D felony; and

 One count of Auto Stripping in the First Degree, a Class D felony.

On November 27, 2023, Justice Horowitz sentenced Marckesano to 1 ½ to 4 ½ years in prison.

Marckesano was represented by the Suffolk County Legal Aid Society. These cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Blythe C. Miller of the Financial Crime Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Jacob Delauter of the Major Crime Bureau.

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Suffolk County Police arrested a man and a woman on Oct. 23 for allegedly burglarizing five businesses since Oct. 19.

Following an investigation by Sixth Squad detectives, Ralph Pergola and Kristin DiGiglio were identified as having allegedly committed multiple burglaries within the Sixth Precinct between October 19 and Oct. 23. During each burglary, the pair allegedly broke the glass front door of the business and stole money from a register.

Pergola and DiGiglio were arrested by Sixth Squad detectives for allegedly burglarizing the following businesses:

  • Setauket Village Diner, located at 283 Route 25A, East Setauket, on October 19
  • Café Spiga, located at 176 North Country Road, Mt. Sinai, on October 19
  • Barcode Smoke Shop and Hookah, located at 115 Mark Tree Road, Centereach, on October 21
  • Port Smoke & Vape Shop, located at 683 Old Town Road, Port Jefferson Station, on October 22
  • Better on a Bagel Express, located at 25 Gibbs Road, Coram, on October 23

Pergola, 44, and DiGiglio, 35, both undomiciled, were each charged with five counts of Burglary 3rd Degree.

Anyone with information on these burglaries is asked to contact the Sixth Squad at 631-854-8652.

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Christopher Volpe

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Sept. 8 that Christopher Volpe, 44, of Patchogue, pleaded guilty to Burglary in the Third Degree for leading and being a part of a trio that burglarized five Suffolk County Dunkin’ Donuts franchises in 2022.

“This defendant admitted to breaking into these businesses and now he’s going to face justice,” said District Attorney Tierney. “These types of crimes not only violate the law, but they also negatively affect our quality of life in Suffolk County. Businesses that are repeatedly targeted, either leave neighborhoods or raise their prices and this inevitably impacts the quality of life in our communities across Suffolk County.”

According to court documents and the defendant’s statements during his plea allocution, between December 28, 2022, and January 20, 2023, Volpe burglarized five Dunkin’ Donuts locations with the help of co-defendants Michael Gruber, 54, of Medford and Kristen Osmolia, 52, of Holbrook. Gruber drove Volpe and Osmolia to and from each of the burglary locations.

Once there, Volpe pried open the back doors of the locations while the businesses were closed, and stole money from cash drawers, boxes, and safes. During the last three burglaries, Osmolia allegedly acted as a lookout, and assisted with stealing money from inside one of the locations.

Volpe led the group to burglarize the following Dunkin’ Donuts locations:

  •   December 28, 2022 – 5050 Nesconset Highway, East Setauket.
  •   December 30, 2022 – 430 N. Country Road, Saint James.
  •   January 2, 2023 – 235 W. Main Street, Smithtown.
  •   January 3, 2023 – 411 Furrows Road, Holbrook.
  •   January 20, 2023 – 1105J Horseblock Road, Farmingville.

Investigators with the Suffolk County Police Department linked Gruber’s 2019 Chevrolet Equinox to each of the burglaries and apprehended the defendants in the moments following their last heist in Farmingville on January 20, 2022. In total, Volpe, Gruber, and Osmolia collectively stole approximately $6,500 from all five locations. Of that total, approximately $4,500 was recovered subsequent to the arrest of the defendants.On September 7, 2023, Volpe pleaded guilty before Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable John B. Collins to two counts of Burglary in the Third Degree, Class D felonies, in satisfaction of the indictment charging him with five counts of Burglary in the Third Degree. Volpe is due back in court on October 13, 2023, for sentencing. He is expected to be sentenced to 5 to 10 years in prison.

Gruber, who was charged with five counts of Burglary in the Third Degree, a Class D felony, pleaded guilty to one count of Burglary in the Third Degree in satisfaction of the indictment on May 31, 2023. Gruber is awaiting sentencing.

Osmolia is charged with three counts of Burglary in the Third Degree, a Class D felony and is being held on $250,000 cash bail, $500,000 fully insured bond, and $1,000,000 partially secured surety bond. Her next court date is September 13, 2023.

 

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Guillermo Ayala Jr.

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Aug. 21 that Guillermo Ayala Jr., 30, of Calverton, pleaded guilty to attacking and slashing his ex-girlfriend’s family after they attempted to deny him entry into their home in December 2022.

“This defendant was so determined to carry out violence against the mother of his children that he savagely attacked three of her family members that attempted to stop him,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Thankfully, this defendant now faces a significant prison sentence which will afford the victim and her family a sense of safety and security.”

According to court documents and the defendant’s admissions during his guilty plea allocution, on December 2, 2022, Ayala and the mother of his children went shopping and out to dinner. Afterwards, Ayala drove around for hours demanding that the victim show him her cell phone so that he could see who she had been speaking to. At one point, Ayala pulled over into a desolate area of Riverhead and placed his hands around the victim’s neck to prevent her from breathing. Ayala also held a razor to her throat and threated to kill her if she didn’t give him her phone. Ultimately, the victim was able to convince Ayala to bring her home.

The next evening, the victim met with family members at her parents’ house to discuss her fear for herself and her children following the events of the night before. While the family was gathered, Ayala began knocking on the front door. When the victim’s stepmother answered the door and told Ayala to leave, Ayala pushed his way past her and entered the home. Family members who heard the commotion went to the front door. Ayala then punched the victim’s father and then slashed his face with a razor blade.

When the victim’s uncle attempted to pull Ayala off the victim’s father, Ayala slashed the uncle in the face with the razor, causing a deep, 4.5-inch laceration from the top of his forehead down to the bottom of his jaw and continuing behind his ear, resulting in permanent disfigurement to his face. As the struggle to subdue Ayala continued, Ayala bit both the father and the uncle on their arms. The victim’s aunt attempted to help, and Ayala slashed her arm with the razor blade.

During the altercation, the victim called 911 for help. Members of the Suffolk County Police Department arrived at the scene and saw the razor still in Ayala’s hand as the victim’s family held him on the ground. Ayala was then placed under arrest.

On August 21, 2023, Ayala pleaded guilty before Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Timothy P. Mazzei, to the charges of one count of Burglary in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony; one count of Assault in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony; and one count of Criminal Obstruction of Breathing, a Class A misdemeanor.