Suspects charged with burglaries of homes, stealing from Roosevelt Field Macy's, Nassau police say

Nassau police have arrested and charged eight suspects — including four accused of seven home burglaries since November — for crimes committed in crews directed by South American organized crime outfits, authorities said Monday.

Four suspects face charges connected to the seven Nassau burglaries, which resulted in $82,000 worth of stolen cash, jewelry and valuables, said Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder.

A separate group of four suspects are accused of stealing $12,000 worth of merchandise earlier this month from the Roosevelt Field Macy's, he said at a news conference Monday.

The unrelated groups are part of a theft ring tied to organized crime outfits in several South American countries including Chile, Colombia and Venezuela, according to the police commissioner.

Ryder noted that about 90% of all recent burglaries in Nassau have been tied to organized crime groups in South America. He said police are working with federal agencies to identify those groups.

"These are ongoing, organized crime groups that have been sent up here for the purpose to commit crimes here," Ryder said, "knowing if you're caught, and you get out and sent back to where you came from, we'll send a new crew."

Lake Success police arrested the four home burglary suspects Wednesday after they attempted to break into a bathroom window at a residence on Pine Hill Road but set off an alarm instead, Ryder said.

The four suspects fled in a black Ford Edge registered in Virginia.

Lake Success police stopped the vehicle and arrested the four men and worked with the Nassau County Burglary Pattern team, eventually connecting the suspects to six other burglaries, including the first Nov. 26 in Herricks, Ryder said. Other burglaries allegedly committed by the four included three December break-ins, two in Jericho, the other in Plainview, and a pair earlier this month in Manhasset and Mineola.

David Rodriguez Paez, 25, of Colombia, was charged with four counts of second-degree burglary and two counts of second-degree attempted burglary. Andres Felipe Rayo Lugo, 19, of Flushing, was charged with five counts of second-degree burglary and two counts of second-degree attempted burglary; Kevin Santiago Siabato Canon, 19, of Colombia, faces charges of one count of second-degree burglary and one count of second-degree attempted burglary; and Andres Felipe Canon Ibanez, 23, of, Colombia was charged with one count of second-degree burglary and two counts of attempted burglary.

They were arraigned Thursday and bail was set for each of them at $200,000 cash or $400,000 bond.

The second group of suspects was charged with stealing $12,000 worth of merchandise Jan. 9 at the Roosevelt Field Macy's. They were confronted by a loss prevention officer and later stopped by Nassau County police on Ring Road outside the mall, Ryder said.

Wrallan Cabezas Meza, 19, of the Bronx; and Jose Garcia Escobar, 30; Miguel Angel Rojas, 21; and Rafael Rojas, 27, all of Manhattan, were arrested, police said. Meza, who was allegedly driving the BMW, was released on $3,000 bond or $1,500 cash. The other three defendants were released on appearance tickets. Defense attorneys for all four defendants could not be reached for comment.

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.