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Man who used crowbar to break into six stores pleads guilty, faces up to 10

March 28, 2017 By Hannah Wulkan

A man who stole thousands of dollars from Queens businesses last year pleaded guilty and could face up to 10 years in prison, announced District Attorney Richard Brown today.

Hector Rodriguez, 38, pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary after breaking in to six stores throughout Queens between October 2015 and September 2016 and stealing $40,000 in cash, lottery tickets and cigarettes.

“The defendant has now admitted his guilt. He brazenly burglarized various businesses in Queens – literally breaking into the buildings by creating holes in rooftops and/or in walls to gain entry,” Brown said in a statement. “The commercial locations – grocery stores and bodegas in various neighborhoods throughout Queens County – had cash and merchandise taken by this defendant. He will be punished for his crimes with a lengthy term behind bars.”

According to the charges, Rodriguez broke in to six commercial locations by cutting holes in the rooftops or back walls to enter.

He burglarized businesses in Queens Village, Woodside, Jackson Heights, North Corona and Jamaica and took cash, lottery tickets and cartons of cigarettes from each location.

Brown said that he was observed on video surveillance breaking in to each location wearing a hoodie and sneakers and carrying a crowbar and flashlight.

Rodriguez will return to court on April 11 for sentencing, and will likely face 2.5 to 5 years for each charge to be served consecutively, or 5 to 10 years total.

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