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Burglary Bust Nets Charges Against Seven Who Targeted Affluent Towns

HARRISON, N.Y. -- Seven people involved in a major tristate burglary ring were arrested on Tuesday, Harrison Police Chief Anthony Marraccini announced.

Harrison Police Chief Anthony Marraccini

Harrison Police Chief Anthony Marraccini

Photo Credit: File photo

Marraccini said that a license plate reader that identified the plate of a vehicle believed to be involved in a Sept. 22 burglary in Purchase helped lead investigators to various suspects involved in more than burglaries in Connecticut, New Jersey and Long Island, as well as in Westchester and Putnam counties.

Charged were David Tadjijev, 39, of Queens; Angelo Carzoglio, 49, of Manhattan; Rafael Sanchez, 25, of Manhattan; Marie Nikgjonaj, 35, of the Bronx; and Teaneck, N.J., residents Jamelle Singletary, 26, Lawal Erskine, 30, and Jamaal Sermon, 30.

The burglary that led to their arrest occurred in Fairfield, Conn.

The arrests are the result of a nearly two-month joint investigation by the Harrison Police Department, the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office Organized Crime Division, and the Special Investigation Squad of the Bergen County, N.J., Prosecutor’s Office.

According to police, the burglars generally targeted residences located in affluent neighborhoods containing cul-de-sacs with residences that appeared unoccupied at the time of the burglary. The burglars generally entered homes during the week in the early hours of the day. 

Once entry was made into the residence, the burglars proceeded directly to the master bedrooms and removed jewelry, cash, safes, and other miscellaneous property. In most incidents, pillow cases were taken from the residence as a means to carry stolen property. 

As the investigation continued, it was discovered that the burglars would take the stolen property to a “fence” in New York City who paid a premium dollar in exchange for the stolen proceeds. The “fence," identified as Tadjijev, operated a jewelry business in the New York City Diamond District. Tadjijev was identified as the ring leader by aiding them with rented vehicles to commit burglaries. 

On Oct. 21, a mobile police unit license plate reader confirmed the suspects were leaving Connecticut. Two suspects were stopped on the Hutchinson River Parkway in Harrison and found in possession of a stolen safe and pillow case of assorted jewelry taken from a home in Fairfield, police said.

It was later determined that Sermon, Singletary and Erskine also operated a separate burglary ring out of Bergen County, N.J., also supplying Tadjijev with stolen proceeds.

After their arrests, 10 court-ordered search warrants were executed in multiple locations, police said. Harrison police recovered a substantial amount of jewelry, cash and a loaded firearm during the searches.

Carzoglio, Sanchez and Nikgjonaj are being held in Westchester County Jail on charges of possession of stolen property. 

Tadjijev, Singletary, Erskine and Sermon are being held at the Westchester County Jail on "fugitive from justice" warrants pending their extradition to New Jersey.

Further charges are expected, police said Tuesday.

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