911 Tip Helps Foil Maspeth Burglars
Thanks to the assistance of an anonymous tipster, police officers collared a pair of individuals who allegedly attempted to break into a Maspeth home early last Wednesday morning, Sept. 5 and were linked to several other recent burglary bids, law enforcement sources said.
Police identified the duo as 22- year-old Miguel Sappleton of 93rd Street in East Elmhurst and 21-yearold Nathely Rodriguez of 53rd Avenue in Corona.
Members of the 104th Precinct responded to a home in the vicinity of 54th Avenue and 66th Street at around 4 a.m. last Wednesday after receiving a 911 call regarding a suspicious man and woman lurking at a home.
Upon their arrival, police sources said, P.O. Fateemah Hopson spoke with the caller, who informed her that the individuals were seen entering a fenced-in area.
After obtaining a description of the individuals, Officer Hopson reportedly searched the surrounding area and spotted Sappleton and Rodriguez a short distance away from the crime scene, attempting to open the side door of a home.
Following a preliminary investigation, the duo were taken into custody by Hopson and brought to the 104th Precinct’s Ridgewood stationhouse for further questioning.
Law enforcement sources said the duo allegedly confessed to attempting to break into another home on 66th Street in Maspeth at around 2:30 a.m. on the morning of Aug. 24. Sappleton was also connected to the break-in of a home on 126th Street in College Point early on the morning of Aug. 1, according to information provided by the Queens District Attorney’s office.
Both suspects were charged with multiple counts of attempted burglary and criminal trespassing; Sappleton was additionally charged with second degree burglary for the College Point break-in.
According to court records, Sappleton and Rodriguez were arraigned in Queens Criminal Court last Thursday, Sept. 6, before Judge Michael Yavinsky. Sappleton was ordered held on $50,000 bail, while Rodriguez was released on her own recognizance.
They are scheduled to return to court on Sept. 26.
