A Howard Beach man accused of stealing more than $100,000 worth of jewelry from a Westbury store in a string of commercial burglaries in Nassau was arraigned yesterday on a 21-count indictment.
Joseph Borelli, 42, allegedly stole more than $200,000 in jewelry, cash and other items in a string of 10 commercial burglaries from January through June 2015 all over Nassau County. He was was arraigned before Acting Supreme Court Justice Helene Gugerty on Dec. 2 on 10 counts of third degree burglary, ten counts of second degree criminal mischief and possession of burglar’s tools.
He was held on $450,000 cash or bond bail and is due back in court Jan. 5. He faces a maximum of 3-1/2 to seven years in prison on each top count.
“The defendant’s alleged avarice knew no bounds and he stole everything from lottery tickets at mom and pop delis to jewelry at boutique stores,” Acting DA Madeline Singas said. “The defendant’s alleged ‘smash and grab’ burglary spree ended when our partners in the Nassau County Police Department, working with our office, arrested him in June.”
Singas said that officers in the NCPD third squad initially identified a burglary pattern and working with the NCPD DA Squad and the NCDA Organized Crime and Rackets Bureau assisted in a six-month-long investigation, obtaining warrants and helping to track and arrest Borelli and his co-defendants, Edan Balila and Rotem Balila, both from Great Neck. Video surveillance and court-authorized GPS tracking helped bring the arrests.
Borelli is charged with conducting overnight ‘smash-and-grab’ burglaries at the following 10 locations on or about the following dates:
Jan. 7: Kardesh Jewelers, 2370 Bellmore Road, Merrick. Stolen: approx. $50,000 worth of jewelry
Jan. 10: Cookshop Deli, 374 Great Neck Rd., Great Neck. Stolen: approx. $500 cash and lottery tickets
Jan. 31: Loucri Jewelers, 55 Northern Blvd., Greenvale. Stolen: approx. $75,000 worth of jewelry
Feb. 13: Messina Market, 6255 Northern Blvd., East Norwich. Stolen: approx. $3,000 cash
Feb. 28: Westbury Jewelry Exchange, 1083 Old Country Rd., New Cassel. Stolen: approx. $100,000 worth of jewelry
April 21: Lana’s Jewelry Store, 29 Hicksville Rd., Massapequa. Stolen: approx. $10,000 worth of jewelry and watches
May 11: Shoe Repair, 521 W. Merrick Rd., Valley Stream. Stolen: approx. $7,000 worth of jewelry
May 19: Maddy Fine Jewelers, 113 Jackson Ave., Syosset. Stolen: approx. $30,000 worth of jewelry
May 25: Bagelman of Great Neck, 491 Great Neck Rd., Great Neck. Stolen: approx. $200 cash.
June 16: B&D Deli, 667 Old Country Road, Plainview. Stolen: loose change
Co-defendants Edan Balila and Rotem Balila both pleaded guilty to one count of third degree burglary and are awaiting sentencing.
