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It happened on Monday, Jan. 29 in Elmont, according to Nassau County Police.
At approximately 9:45 a.m., the group was discovered near South Kings Street in two cars – a black Nissan Rogue and a Mitsubishi Lancer, both with Ohio plates – one of which was recognized by officers as the vehicles involved in multiple burglaries across different jurisdictions.
Police said that an investigation located multiple burglary tools in the car, including a Wi-Fi signal scrambler, portable radios, and crowbars.
The following five people, who were in the cars, were arrested:
- Carolina Diana Giraldo Franco, age 29;
- Luis Eduardo Giraldo Franco, age 27;
- Jonathan Runza Vergara, age 37;
- Yeison Enrique Beltran Avila, age 21; and
- Kevin Sebastian Baez Barragan, age 24.
The Giraldo Francos and Vergara live in Queens, while police said Beltran Avila and Baez
Barragan were homeless.
All five are from Colombia and police accused them of being a part of the South American Theft
Group. These groups are sometimes referred to as “crime tourists.”
Every person arrested was charged with:
- Attempted burglary;
- Possession of burglar tools;
- Criminal tampering; and
- Attempted conspiracy.
Beltran Avila was given an additional charge of second-degree burglary for a previous alleged crime.
Each was scheduled to appear at Hempstead’s First District Court on Tuesday, Jan. 30.
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