Linked To Rash Of Ozone Pk. Break-Ins
A 48-year-old Jamaica man has been charged with allegedly breaking into five homes in Ozone Park and South Ozone Park over the last month and stealing thousands of dollars worth of jewelry and other items.
Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown identified the defendant as Harry Garcia, 48, of 134th Avenue, who was arraigned last Saturday, June 7, in Queens Criminal Court on five criminal complaints charging him with five counts of seconddegree burglary, one count of second-degree grand larceny, two counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, one count of fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property and one count of resisting arrest.
Garcia, who faces up to 75 years in prison if convicted, was ordered held on a total of $60,000 in bail and to return to court on June 23.
“I commend the police and prosecutors in this case for their hard work in tracking down the defendant and working to end his alleged oneman crime wave,” Brown said in a statement issued on Tuesday, June 10. “People’s homes are their sanctuaries and this defendant is alleged to have crossed a very serious line in entering those homes and stealing personal and valuable items.”
According to the criminal complaints, Garcia broke into five Queens homes between May 6 and June 6 and stole thousands of dollars worth of jewelry and other items.
Reportedly, police officers assigned to the NYPD Burglary Larceny Apprehension Surveillance Team (BLAST) were investigating a pattern of residential burglaries last Friday, June 6, when Garcia was observed entering a rear yard on 117th Street in South Ozone Park, prying open a window and entering the residence.
After a short period of time, Garcia was allegedly observed leaving the rear yard with a bag he had not been carrying when he entered the dwelling. It is alleged that, as BLAST officers approached Garcia, he dropped the bag and fled on foot.
Law enforcement sources said Garcia was apprehended a block away, where he allegedly resisted arrest by flailing his arms and legs in an attempt to avoid being handcuffed and placed under arrest.
It is additionally alleged that in retrieving the bag that Garcia dropped, police discovered it contained a Sony PlayStation, controllers and other accessories. Police also allegedly recovered a bracelet and a chain that Garcia had on his person.
The four additional burglaries allegedly occurred on May 6 on 109th Street in South Ozone Park; on May 13 on 135th Avenue in South Ozone Park; on May 23 on 83rd Street in Ozone Park; and on May 30 on 113th Street in Ozone Park.
The investigation was conducted by P.O. Kevin Stewart of the NYPD Grand Larceny Division and others under the supervision of Lt. Rohan Griffith and the overall supervision of Inspector Kevin Harrington, commander of the Grand Larceny Division, and Chief of Detectives Robert K. Boyce; and by members of the 106th Precinct Detective Squad.
SeniorAssistant DistrictAttorney Marnie Lobel of the District Attorney’s Special Proceedings Bureau is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Assistant District AttorneysAnthony M. Communiello, bureau chief, and Oscar W. Ruiz, deputy bureau chief, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations Peter A. Crusco and Deputy Executive Assistant District Attorney Linda M. Cantoni.
It was noted that criminal charges are merely accusations and that a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
