38°
The bust in Fairfield County comes after months of investigating and working with the FBI, and law enforcement departments across the region.
The two crews worked the Fairfield and Westchester areas, Greenwich Police Capt. Mark Zuccerella said.
There have been more than 70 burglaries in Greenwich since 2021, they added.
Zuccerella said the crews have targeted Greenwich for the past five years.
"To combat this, we have developed good relationships with Connecticut and New York law enforcement agencies to help," Zuccerella said.
The crews work by having the suspects enter the US and commit several burglars in an area, and then leave, returning to their country of origin.
The problem has become pervasive in the greater tri-state area, as well as other regions of the country, the department said.
The different crews, separate and with no connection to each other, use the same tactics to commit their crimes on high-end properties in the evening hours after sunset when residents are not home. They also always entered through a second-floor window or door and if the house is armed with an alarm system, they flee the area.
"The best defense homeowners can use are lights on inside, do not let mail or packages be left outside, and turn on the home alarm," Zuccerella said. "The crews have shown they don't want to risk getting caught and target a dark house that looks like no one is home."
All eight are in custody in other states and are awaiting extradition, which can take time because they are wanted in other areas as well, the department said.
Greenwich Detective Christopher Libasci investigated a burglary that occurred in the Old Greenwich area of town and was able to identify and prepare arrest warrants for the following suspects:
- Cortes Munoz, of Santiago, Chile, when returned to Greenwich will be charged with burglary and larceny. The bond was set at $2.5 million.
- New York City resident Almedia-Casas, of East Elmhurst, Queens, when returned to Greenwich will be charged with burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary. He was held on a $500,000 bond.
- New York City resident Castillo-Almedia, also of East Elmhurst, Queens, when returned to Greenwich will be charged with conspiracy to commit burglary. The bond was set at $500,000.
All three are in custody in Delaware for committing burglars in Delaware and elsewhere along the east coast, the department said.
Detective Michael Hall investigated a burglary that occurred in the mid-country section of Greenwich and was able to identify and prepare arrest warrants for the following subjects who all will be charged with conspiracy to commit burglary:
- Francisco J. Maturana, of Kissimmee, Florida.
- Long Island resident Lautaro-Alejand D. Achiardi, of East Meadow
- Long Island resident Lidia Gil-Andreu, also of East Meadow
- Long Island resident Felipe A. Hermosilla-Lizama, also of East Meadow
- Long Island resident Rodrigo Hermosilla-Lizama, also of East Meadow
All are being held in New Jersey on a $50,000 bond.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Pound Ridge and receive free news updates.
