Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Master Criminals Wanted In Connection With 21 Burglaries
By
Ben Yakas
Published Oct 25, 2014
Modified Oct 25, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
DCPI
By
Ben Yakas
Published Oct 25, 2014
Modified Oct 25, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Police are on the lookout for suspects who are responsible for AT LEAST 21 burglaries over the last five months. Cops are actually not sure whether it is one suspect or multiple suspects—but either way, they have certainly earned the title of 'master criminals' due to this uninterrupted streak. No word on whether police have interviewed these masterminds yet:
Despite the fact that they aren't sure how many suspects are involved in the incidents, cops have determined there is a pattern: in each of the incidents, the suspect/s force entry into the commercial establishments via the roof, side/rear doors or ventilation ducts while the business is closed. The suspect/s then remove miscellaneous items, currency from the cash register, and break into the ATM machine.
Check out all of the incidents below.
Incident #1: On Sunday June 29, 2014, at 2300 hrs,234-20 Merrick Blvd within the confines of the 105th Pct. suspect(s) entered via the roof, disabled the surveillance system and removed approximately $3200 from the register and ATM. Incident #2: On Wednesday July 16, 2014, at 0015 hrs,229-20 Merrick Blvd within the confines of the 105th Pct. suspect(s) entered via the roof, removed the surveillance system and removed an unknown amount of currency from the register and ATM. Incident #3: On Thursday July 17, 2014, at 2100 hrs,801 Crossbay Blvd within the confines of the 100th Pct. suspect(s) entered via a side door, removed cartons of cigarettes, Lotto tickets and an unknown amount of currency from the register and ATM. Incident #4: On Tuesday July 22, 2014, at 1630 hrs,801 150-19 Liberty Ave within the confines of the 103rd Pct. suspect(s) entered via the roof. No property was removed. Incident #5: On Thursday July 24, 2014, at 0130 hrs,3236 Bainbridge Avenue within the confines of the 52nd Pct. suspect(s) entered via the roof duct system, removed parts of the surveillance system and removed approximately $4,000 from the ATM. Incident #6: On Thursday July 24, 2014, at 1900 hrs,32-94 Steinway Street within the confines of the 114th Pct. suspect(s) entered via a rear door, broke through a bathroom wall to gain access to an adjoining business. No property was removed from this location. Incident #7: On Thursday July 24, 2014, at 2100 hrs,32-86 Steinway Street within the confines of the 114th Pct. suspect(s) entered via a hole in the wall from an adjoining business then removed candy, cigarettes approximately $1400, the ATM and parts of the surveillance system. Incident #8: On Thursday July 24, 2014, at 2300 hrs,640 Prospect Avenue within the confines of the 41st Pct. suspect(s) entered (No visible forced entry) and removed an unknown amount of currency. Incident #9: On Friday July 25, 2014, at 2130 hrs,207-12 Hollis Avenue within the confines of the 105th Pct. suspect(s) entered via the roof, and removed an unknown amount of currency. Incident #10: On Saturday July 26, 2014, at 1930 hrs,47-04 Bell Blvd within the confines of the 111th Pct. suspect(s) entered via the roof, and removed $300 from the register broke into the ATM which was empty. Incident #11: On Sunday August 10, 2014, at 0407 hrs,190-20 Hillside Avenue within the confines of the 103rd Pct. suspect(s) entered via the roof, and removed an unknown amount of currency from the ATM. Incident #12: On Monday August 18, 2014, at 0315 hrs,75-11 Rockaway Blvd within the confines of the 102nd Pct. suspect(s) entered via a rear entrance, and removed a bottle of liquor and an unknown amount of currency from a cashbox. Incident #13: On Monday August 25, 2014, at 2100 hrs, 147-26 Brookville Blvd within the confines of the 105th Pct. suspect(s) entered via the roof, disabled the security system, removed $700 and attempted to break into the ATM. Incident #14: On Tuesday August 26, 2014, at 2300 hrs, 255-09 Hillside Ave within the confines of the 105th Pct. suspect(s) entered via the roof vent system, removed approximately $13600 from the register and ATM. Incident #15: On Friday September 12, 2014, at 1630 hrs, 128-08 20 Ave within the confines of the 109th Pct. suspect(s) entered via a rear door, and removed an unknown amount of currency from an ATM. Incident #16: On Friday September 12, 2014, at 2000 hrs, 88-24 Van Wyck Expressway within the confines of the 102nd Pct. suspect(s) entered via the roof, damaged the security system but did not remove any property. Incident #17: On Monday September 15, 2014, at 0350 hrs, 88-24 Van Wyck Expressway within the confines of the 102nd Pct. suspect(s) entered via the roof, and fled with an unknown amount of currency. Incident #18: On Thursday September 18, 2014, at 0630 hrs, 131-02 14th Avenue within the confines of the 109th Pct. suspect(s) entered via a rear door, removed $200 from register and an unknown amount of currency from an ATM. Incident #19: On Monday October 20, 2014, at 1930 hrs, 37 East Bedford Park Blvd within the confines of the 52nd Pct. suspect(s) entered location and made a holes in both side walls to gain access to an adjoining business. There was no property removed from this location. Incident #20: On Monday October 20, 2014, at 1930 hrs, 35 East Bedford Park Blvd within the confines of the 52nd Pct. suspect(s) entered location via a hole in the wall and removed an unknown amount of currency from a coin machine. Incident #21: On Monday October 20, 2014, at 1930 hrs, 39 East Bedford Park Blvd within the confines of the 52nd Pct. suspect(s) entered location via a hole in the wall and removed an unknown amount of currency.
Police ask that anyone with information in regards to any of these incidents or the location of this suspect to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential.
Tagged
burglars
burglary
nypd
police
original
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Manhattan DA argues judge shouldn't dismiss state charges against Luigi Mangione
He pleaded guilty to separate charges in federal court this summer.
By
Samantha Max
Published Oct 9, 2026 at 3:44 p.m. ET
Feds blame NYC's sanctuary policies for violent ICE arrest in Marble Hill
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said ICE agents were unaware a child was in the vehicle they fired on during the arrest.
By
Arya Sundaram
News
Feds blame NYC's sanctuary policies for violent ICE arrest in Marble Hill
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said ICE agents were unaware a child was in the vehicle they fired on during the arrest.
By
Arya Sundaram
NYPD rushed man shot by ICE to hospital in police SUV, bodycam footage shows
By
Ben Feuerherd
Pencils down: NYC lawmakers want to switch back to paper tests as state mandates screens
By
Jessica Gould
Penn Station’s future could be determined by midterm elections
By
Stephen Nessen
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .