Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that a 50-year-old Brooklyn man was arraigned on two separate indictments for allegedly committing a string of six burglaries in Borough Park in September and October 2018, including breaking into two synagogues and a religious school.
District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This defendant is allegedly a professional burglar whose crime spree violated the sanctity of religious institutions, among other places, from which he stole cash and religious items. We will now seek to hold him accountable.”
The District Attorney identified the defendant as Charles Cajigas, 50, of Dyker Heights, Brooklyn. He was arraigned yesterday before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice William Miller on two indictments in which he is charged with third-degree burglary, fourth-degree grand larceny, petit larceny, criminal trespass and other charges. He was ordered held on $75,000 bail and to return to court on January 11, 2019.
The District Attorney said that, according to the investigation, the defendant was charged in connection with the following incidents:
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- On September 15, at approximately 1:30 a.m., the defendant allegedly burglarized a commercial establishment located at 4520 18 Avenue.
- On September 25, 2018, at approximately 1:30 a.m., the defendant allegedly burglarized the Kedishas Aharon Synagogue located at 1350 39th Street and stole two silver crowns used in religious services.
- On September 25, 2018, at approximately 2:20 a.m., the defendant allegedly burglarized a commercial establishment located at 4605 13th Avenue.
- On October 7, 2018, at approximately 1:22 a.m., the defendant allegedly burglarized Gan Yisroel School, located at 3909 15th Avenue.
- On October 8, 2018, at approximately 4:20 a.m., the defendant allegedly burglarized the Seret Wiznitz Synagogue, located at 4811 13th Avenue.
- On October 21, 2018, at approximately 4:25 a.m., the defendant allegedly burglarized a commercial establishment located at 4724 18th Avenue.
The defendant was arrested on October 23, 2018, after the New York City Police Department’s Facial Recognition Program identified him as a possible suspect. Following his arrest, he allegedly identified himself on video surveillance taken from the crime scenes and told the police where the religious items could be located.
The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Krystyn Tendy, of the District Attorney’s Grey Zone Trial Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Danielle Eaddy, Bureau Chief.
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
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