A Queens teenager was arrested in Baldwin on Friday and charged in a string of burglaries that took place over the course of a month, while two other teens, both from Baldwin, were also taken into custody in connection with the case, Nassau County police said.
The first of five alleged burglaries occurred on Dec. 11 when 17-year-old Courtney Cross of College Point, Queens went to a house on Washington Street in Baldwin and rang the front door bell, police said. When no one answered he allegedly entered the house through a back window and walked away with jewelry and electronics, police said.
Six days later, Cross made his way inside a home on Jeffrey Drive through an open window, police said, and allegedly took a handbag, GPS, liquor, an iPad, camera and a video game system.
On Jan. 7, police said Cross returned to the home of the first burglary but wasn’t able to get inside the house.
He allegedly struck again four days later at a home on Hastings Street but was scared away by a 27-year-old man who confronted Cross inside the house, police said.
And then on Jan. 17, Cross and a 16-year-old Baldwin resident went to a house on Iris Lane and when no one answered he kicked in the back door and allegedly grabbed jewelry, fur coats and a laptop, police said. The 16-year-old remained outside during the incident, police said.
Police caught up with Cross on Friday in Baldwin and placed him under arrest. The 16-year-old from the previous day’s burglary was apprehended later in the day.
During the investigation, police said the 16-year-old’s brother, Nathaniel Marcelin, 19, allegedly concealed and attempted to dispose of items from the burglaries. He was also taken into custody and charged with tampering with physical evidence.
Cross was charged with five counts of burglary. The other teen was charged with second-degree burglary and criminal possession of stolen property.
They will all be arraigned on Saturday.
