SUFFOLK COUNTY (WABC) — Nine people have been charged in a crime spree that stretched from Long Island to Westchester County and even to Florida.
Prosecutors say the suspects stole cars and used them to burglarize at least ten auto shops, taking cash, license plates, and blank checks.
Investigators say the crimes were not limited to auto shops.
“I don’t see how guys try to perpetrate crime and not realize that there are cameras everywhere,” said Vincent Addesso of Ro Ro Automotive.
A pair of burglars was seen on video smashing their way into a White Plains auto shop, which led to indictments of nine men from Long Island.
They were charged in connection with a 17-day crime spree last summer.
“Ten burglaries, three armed robberies – including a homeinvasion robbery – two carjackings, five vehicle thefts, and possession of illegal firearms,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney.
The crimes spanned Long Island, Westchester, and the Hudson Valley.
The district attorney says that midway through the spree, the suspects traveled to Florida to buy guns and drove back in a car stolen there.
“This was an organized and prolific crime spree that grew increasingly violent and dangerous,” Tierney said.
A home invasion at gunpoint in Bay Shore in August led to two quick arrests and a trove of evidence found in a car, which investigators say linked the remaining suspects to the other crimes.
The suspects allegedly climbed through a window at a White Plains shop, trashed the place, and stole checks, according to owner Mike Fusco.
“Changing bank accounts – you know, it was three weeks’ worth of cleanup,” Fusco said.
They didn’t manage to steal any cars or valuable tools from nearby Ro Ro Automotive, which was hit the same night in July, but they left behind significant damage.
Owner Vincent Addesso is relieved to hear that the multicounty investigation is resulting in accountability.
“Something like that can set you back – what it costs to change a piece of glass, just the inconvenience. It’s not fair; we work hard. If they can spend that much time doing bad things, they can do good things,” Addesso said.
* Get Eyewitness News Delivered
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News
Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.
Copyright © 2026 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.