Oz. Pk., Woodhaven Residents Pinched
Police arrested five men suspected of breaking into a deli in Kew Gardens Hills and stealing lottery tickets, cigarettes and cash on Friday, Jan. 3.
Robert Martin, 27, of 101st Avenue in Ozone Park; Jose Rosario, 25, of 91st Street in Woodhaven; Christopher Aulet, 21, of North Conduit Boulevard in Ozone Park; Sean Martin, 19, of 101st Avenue in Ozone Park; and a 15-year-old whose name was withheld because he is a minor were all charged with thirddegree burglary and possession of burglar’s tools, police said. Additionally, Sean Martin was charged with criminal possession of stolen property, it was noted.
At about 3 a.m. early Friday morning, officers from the 107th Precinct responded to a 911 call reporting a burglary in progress at the JK Deli at the corner of 71st Avenue and Kissena Boulevard, police reports stated.
When the officers arrived, they found the ATM damaged and a hole in the deli’s ceiling.
Sgt. Richard Lavelle, one of the responding officers, called for backup before ascending through the hole in the ceiling, police sources said.
On the roof, Lavelle found four of the suspects attempting to hide behind a wall on the north side of the roof, and upon his arrival, they scattered, according to law enforcement sources.
Lavelle apprehended one man after a brief struggle, and another was collared in the elevator of an adjoining building, police reports stated. Emergency services apprehended two more suspects, who hid in nearby trees, according to law enforcement sources. A fifth suspect was found waiting in a car parked nearby, it was noted.
After the bust, officers recovered $12,000 in cash; 3,518 scratch-off lottery tickets; 162 packs of cigarettes; and 49 boxes of cigars, as well as hammers, a pry bar, a drill, a flashlight and a propane torch, according to a police report.
The responding officers were Lavelle along with Police Officers Michael Gannon, Gina Ayoung and Michele Lopez.
