You are reading

Man who broke into several Sunnyside apartments charged, faces 15-years prison

April 7, 2017 Staff Report

A Brooklyn man has been charged with breaking in to six homes in Queens over the past six months and stealing more than $20,000 in cash, electronics and jewelry.

According to Queens District Attorney Richard Brown, 38-year-old Paul Rodriguez broke in to six homes and attempted to break in to six more throughout Sunnyside and Ridgewood between November 2016 and this month, stealing cash and valuables from each location. If convicted, he could face up to 15 years in prison.

“Over the span of six months, the defendant is alleged to have brazenly busted through locked doors and windows to steal the property of others. Good police work caught the alleged serial burglar in the act of trying to swap the jewelry he’d just stolen for cash at a Brooklyn pawn shop,” Brown said.

Rodriguez allegedly left behind a screwdriver at a home he burglarized on November 4, according to the charges, and the DNA found on the tool matches his.

According to the complaint, Rodriguez broke in to a series of houses in Ridgewood,  including one on March 23 when he climbed up a fire escape and stole $15,000 worth of jewelry and $2,800 in cash.

On April 5 an NYPD detective observed Rodriguez breaking in to an apartment on 48th Street in Sunnyside and leave 25 minutes later wearing gloves. He stole earrings, a nameplate, a necklace and $500 cash after prying off the deadbolt and forcing open the door. He was also observed trying to break in to four other units on 48th Street.

The police followed Rodriguez to a pawnshop on Knickerbocker Avenue in Brooklyn where he was arrested. Police recovered everything he had stolen from the 48th Street home and also found an envelope with heroin with Rodriguez.

Rodriguez has been charged with second-degree burglary, second-degree attempted burglary, third- and fourth-degree grand larceny, fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, possession of burglar’s tools, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, fourth-degree criminal mischief and petit larceny. If convicted, he could face up to 15 years in prison.

email the author: news@queenspost.com

8 Comments

Click for Comments 
george kelly

Thank you to the 108 House..Good job getting this Skell..THANK YOU ALL..GEORGE KELLY

Reply
MAGA

No one could ever rob me … because I haven’t left my house in years. I’m scared!

Reply
Me

Print and post this all around town, maybe this will repel the burglars and thieves because cops sure don’t seem to. They are jumping windows or sneaking into buildings every other day. Maybe one day they enter the wrong house and get their heads blown by an off duty cop or someone with a shotgun, then we can post those news, that will be deter part 2.

Although, we know he probably won’t get anywhere near 15 years, they have to look into his connections, especially with heroin found on him. I wonder if his supplier is also a local. Kudos to NYPD for catching him. Good police work folks.

Reply
rikki

Do you think burglars are walking around reading printouts from a local neighborhood website? By the way, if it were up to me, I’d blow the head off any one walking down the sidewalk because I am an awful person. NOBODY likes me. I eat canned meats.

Reply

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

10 Black-owned businesses in Queens that are elevating the borough’s culture and economy

Mar. 27, 2025 By Taliah Gabriel

Queens is home to a large number of Black-owned establishments spanning various industries, from cuisine and fashion to music and art. These businesses not only contribute to the borough’s economic growth but also reflect the resilience and creativity of Black entrepreneurs. Many of these establishments draw on the cultural heritage and traditions of Black communities while simultaneously innovating and influencing contemporary trends.

Hochul announces $160M in upgrades to Q70 LaGuardia Link bus line

With plans for the LaGuardia AirTrain and Astoria subway extension officially shelved, Governor Kathy Hochul, the Port Authority, and the MTA on Tuesday unveiled a $160 million proposal to enhance the Q70 LaGuardia Link bus line, promising faster, more frequent, and more reliable service between the airport and transit hubs in Jackson Heights and Woodside.

“The transformation of LaGuardia Airport into a world-class destination that is recognized for its excellence is an integral part of our bold vision for a new era in New York, and that starts with much-needed enhancements in transportation to and from the airport,” Hochul said. “This new funding will advance several transportation projects, provide new bus lanes, reduce congestion and overcrowding, and install new traffic lights to prioritize buses into the airport.”