Amityville woman arrested in Nassau home burglaries, cops say

An Amityville woman was arrested Wednesday and charged with burglarizing at least five Nassau County homes during a series of break-ins dating to April, police said.

Sonia Villegas, 34, of Overland Avenue, was arrested as she left the Cash 4 Gold pawnshop on Merrick Road in Massapequa about 2:55 p.m., Nassau County police said.

At arraignment in First District Court in Hempstead on Thursday, bail for Villegas was set at $100,000 cash or bail, which records show had not been posted.

Police said three of the burglaries occurred Wednesday, including one in North Valley Stream in which the homeowner confronted the burglar.

Police said the burglaries involved a home on Birchwood Drive in Westbury on April 7; a home on New York Avenue in Massapequa Park on May 27; and homes on Gates Avenue in Valley Stream, Jasper Street in North Valley Stream and Debra Court in North Merrick — all on Wednesday.

During most of the burglaries, police contend Villegas stole jewelry and cash. In the Jasper Street incident Wednesday, police said Villegas fled empty-handed through a bathroom window after being confronted by the homeowner.

It was not clear what led police to the pawnshop where Villegas was arrested.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”