An Allentown man will serve up to 30 years behind bars for taking part in a large-scale burglary ring that targeted numerous homes in Lehigh County and surrounding areas.
Lehigh County Judge Robert L. Steinberg on Thursday sentenced Roger Juan Tirado, 53, to 14 to 30 years in a state prison. Tirado pleaded guilty in April to numerous charges including corrupt organizations, receiving stolen property, firearms offenses and 16 counts of burglary.
Tirado was arrested in 2024 along with several other people accused of operating a burglary ring that stole more than $160,000 worth of items from homes in Lehigh, Berks and Northampton counties as well at least one New Jersey residence.
Lehigh County law enforcement agencies had been investigating burglaries and attempted burglaries at homes in Allentown, Bethlehem, Emmaus, Lower Macungie Township, Salisbury Township, South Whitehall Township, Upper Saucon Township, Upper Milford Township and Whitehall Township since 2019.
According to District Attorney Gavin Holihan, investigators noted distinct patterns with the burglaries, including the fact that the burglars entered the homes by prying open doors and windows or entering through an unlocked door.
Most of the burglaries happened during daylight hours, investigators said. In several cases, residents and children were home at the time the crimes occurred and the defendants fled after being discovered.
Items recovered after the group’s arrest included more than 30 firearms, jewelry, coins, financial documents and electronics.
The crimes were investigated by state police along with the Whitehall Township and South Whitehall Township police departments.
Several other defendants charged in the ring previously pleaded guilty. One defendant, Jonathan Mendez, remains at large. Another defendant is awaiting a hearing to determine competency.
Tirado’s attorney, Benjamin Cooper, said the judge treated his client fairly and that Tirado made a smart decision by pleading guilty.
“He has remorse about what happened,” Cooper said. “He knows he was in a bad situation and he is trying to do his best moving forward.”