A man was arraigned today on a 21-count indictment for a series of burglaries in Nassau County in which he and two Great Neck accomplices allegedly stole more than $200,000 in jewelry, cash and other items, Acting District Attorney Madeline Singas announced.
Joseph Borelli, 42, of Queens, was arraigned on ten counts of third-degree burglary, 10 counts of second-degree criminal mischief, and one count of possession of burglar’s tools.
“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,” 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.”
Borelli was held on $450,000 cash or bond bail, the DA’s office said, and is due back in court Jan. 5.
He faces a maximum sentenced of 3 1-2 to seven years in prison.
Edan Balila, 27, and Rotem Balila, 25, both of Great Neck, pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree burglary and are awaiting sentencing, the DA’s office said.
Singas said the Nassau County Police Department’s Third Squad identified the burglary pattern and worked with the Organized Crime and Rackets Bureau in a six-month investigation which used video surveillance and court-authorized GPS tracking to make the arrests.
All three men were arrested in June.
Prosecutors said the burglaries took place at several North Shore businesses, including Cookshop Deli in Great Neck, where approximately $500 in cash and lottery tickets was stolen on Jan. 10; Loucri Jewelers in Greenvale, where about $75,000 in jewelry was stolen on Jan. 31; Westbury Jewelry Exchange in New Cassel, where about $100,000 in jewelry was stolen on Feb. 28; Bagelman of Great Neck, where about $200 was stolen.
The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Bureau Chief Anne Donnelly of the Organized Crime and Rackets Bureau.
