Cops In Westchester County Help Bust Up Alleged Cul-De-Sac Burglary Ring
PURCHASE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Police in Westchester County say they've locked up a burglary crew that targeted upscale homes in cul-de-sacs with no through traffic.
As CBS2's Lou Young reported, Harrison police conducted a two-month investigation along with the Westchester district attorney's and Bergen County prosecutor's offices before arresting seven people.
One of the last cul-de-sacs the burglars hit was one in Purchase, a hamlet in the town of Harrison. Cops had surveillance equipment in place and managed to roll up two crews of alleged burglars.
The suspects never saw it coming.
"Oh, they were very shocked," said Harrison Police Officer Steve Palais. "One of them fell to the floor as soon as they opened the door."
Police said they recovered loot they tracked through a New York City "fence" who was working out of Manhattan's Diamond District.
The stolen items came from homes in the northern suburbs, Long Island, Connecticut and New Jersey, police said. Authorities estimate at least 25 homes were burglarized.
A tennis bracelet worth $20,000 will be returned to its owner in Bergen County. Also recovered were expensive watches, jewelry and wads of cash, authorities said.
Harrison police Chief Anthony Maraccini said the investigation took his people far from home.
"We were out of our jurisdiction most of the time on this," he said. "When we effected the arrest to the four guys that were wanted out of New Jersey, it actually was in Queens."
All of the suspects were in the Westchester County jail as of Thursday night. Three are awaiting extradition to New Jersey.
The victims, meanwhile, are waiting to see how much of their belongings will be returned.
You May Also Be Interested In These Stories
