4 women charged in monthlong string of burglaries in Nassau

Police have arrested four women in connection with a monthlong string of burglaries throughout Nassau County.

Nassau County police announced the arrests Wednesday, charging the four with burglaries in Bethpage, East Meadow, Elmont, Levittown and Plainview between March 14 and Tuesday.

The arrests stemmed from an investigation police said included U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Nassau Police Electronics Squad, the NYPD and even the Chicago Police Department.

However, it was not immediately clear Wednesday if the women, all Romanian nationals, were living in the United States and were wanted in other jurisdictions or, if they had entered the U.S. on travel visas and had come to New York before their alleged spree and arrests on Long Island.

Arrested were: Cristina Tanasie, 25; Cornella Chiciu, 34; Ioana Miclescu, 21; and, Alina Antonescu, 36. Each was charged with two counts of second-degree burglary, while Chiciu was charged with an additional five counts of second-degree burglary, police said.

Police said the burglaries involved the women entering "multiple residences without authority or permission," then stealing "a large amount" of cash and belongings before fleeing.

Additional details on the value of any items taken or details regarding the alleged burglaries themselves — were not immediately clear Wednesday. The dates and locations of the burglaries included:

• March 14 at homes on Mecham Avenue and Biltmore Avenue, Elmont;
• March 17 at a home on Essex Road, Bethpage and two homes on Gates Avenue in East Meadow;
• April 15 at a home on Abbey Lane, Levittown and a home on Eileen Avenue, Plainview.

The four women all were scheduled for arraignment Wednesday in First District Court, Hempstead.

It was unclear if any of the four are represented by counsel.

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.”