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Freeport Man Charged In Series Of Garden City Burglaries

GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A Long Island man has been arrested and charged in connection with a string of home burglaries in Garden City.

Nassau County police said Fritz Byer, of Freeport, was arraigned on three counts of burglary, two counts of criminal possession of stolen property and resisting arrest.

Freeport Man Charged In Series Of Burglaries in Garden City

According to detectives, the first burglary occurred on Nov. 3 at a Washington Avenue residence, where a woman's purse and laptop were stolen.

Byer allegedly struck again at a home on Osborne Road between Nov. 14 and Nov. 18, where coins and a 2013 Honda CRV were taken, police said.

Homeowners in the most recent burglary on Poplar Street reported stolen jewelry, detectives said.

The 26-year-old was arrested on Saturday after officers spotted him getting into the Honda CRV that was stolen from one of the homes, police said.

One officer suffered a cut to his right hand during a struggle with the suspect.

Another Garden City homeowner that was burglarized eight days ago says his belongings have still not been recovered, 1010 WINS' Mona Rivera reported.

The homeowner said he and his wife discovered their home ransacked on Nov. 24 after being away for the weekend.

"Her entire jewelry collection was stolen as well as some sterling silver pieces that we had in the dining room," the homeowner told Rivera.

Garden City Police Commissioner Kenneth Jackson said there were 11 residential burglaries in Garden City during October and November, which he describes as "a higher amount than usual."

Jackson said Byer may be responsible for at least eight of the burglaries including the three he was arrested for.

Police called Byer's arrest a break in the case and said they are investigating whether Byer acted alone or had accomplices.

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