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Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly announced that Queens resident Andres Zapata has been convicted for his role in a pattern burglary spree, in which he and accomplices stole more than $1 million from homes on the North Shore.
Specifically, Zapata was convicted by a jury trial on Tuesday, April 12 of:
- Seven counts of second-degree burglary;
- Attempted burglary;
- Possession of burglary tools.
Donnelly noted that Zapata was also found not guilty of second-degree assault.
According to the charges, between May 2018 and September 2018, Zapata and his co-conspirators burglarized or attempted to burglarize eight houses in gated communities on the North Shore of Nassau County, stealing more than $1 million in people’s property, including cash, foreign currency, jewelry, and designer handbags.
Donnelly said that the burglary ring “specifically chose gated communities with one entrance into and out of the community.”
A lookout was stationed at the gate so that if police responded to the home being burglarized, the crew member could alert accomplices that cops were nearby.
All of the crimes occurred on either Thursday, Friday, or Saturday nights, she said and the burglars entered the homes by breaking rear windows or doors.
Homes in Old Westbury, Manhasset, Jericho, and Woodbury were all targeted.
Zapata was arrested on Sept. 21, 2018.
The trial began on Monday, March 14 and the jury deliberated for less than a day before announcing the conviction. Zapata is scheduled to return to court on Thursday, May 26, when he will face up to 15 years in prison on each burglary count.
“Andres Zapata and his co-defendants preyed on North Shore families for five months, gaining access to their homes and stealing more than $1 million in cash, jewelry, and other items,” Donnelly said.
“Zapata was caught in the act by NCPD officers, tried, and convicted for his crimes. I thank the Nassau County Police Department and commend my prosecutors for their work in bringing this defendant to justice.”
Donnelly said that co-conspirator Brayan Castano, age 33, of Elmhurst, Queens, was also convicted by a jury in October 2021 on similar charges.
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