Photo Courtesy of YouTube/WinningLotteryAdventures
In all but one break-in, according to the DA’s Office, Rodriguez entered the location and took cash and, in some instances, lottery tickets and/or cartons of cigarettes.
By Forum Staff
A Staten Island man pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary for breaking into commercial businesses in Queens County and stealing approximately $40,000 in cash, lottery tickets and cigarettes between October 2015 and September 2016.
“The defendant has now admitted his guilt. He brazenly burglarized various businesses in Queens – literally breaking into the buildings by creating holes in rooftops and/or in walls to gain entry. The commercial locations – grocery stores and bodegas in various neighborhoods throughout Queens County – had cash and merchandise taken by this defendant. He will be punished for his crimes with a lengthy term behind bars,” said District Attorney Brown.
The defendant is identified as Hector Rodriguez, 38, of Jersey Street in the New Brighton section of Staten Island.
According to the charges, Rodriguez broke into six different commercial locations between October 8, 2015, and September 15, 2016. He got into the stores either by cutting a hole in the rooftop of the building or tearing a hole in a back wall. Rodriguez burglarized businesses in Queens Village, Woodside, Jackson Heights, North Corona and Jamaica. He was observed on video surveillance in each of the break-ins wearing a hoodie sweatshirt and sneakers and carrying both a crowbar and flashlight In all but one break-in, he entered the location and took cash and, sometimes lottery tickets and/or cartons of cigarettes.
He pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree burglary before Acting Queens Supreme Court Justice Barry Kron, who indicated that Rodriguez will get 2 1/5 to 5 years in prison, on each count to be served consecutively when his sentencing takes place on April 11.
