BRONX DA’S AUTO CRIME TEAM ‘BAIT CAR’ OPERATION LEADS TO
FOUR ARRESTS IN THE SAME BLOCK IN LESS THAN TWO HOURS
Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that a ‘bait car’ used by one of his Auto Crime Teams proved to be too much of a temptation for three accused thieves, while a fourth defendant allegedly targeted a nearby van which is owned by Catholic Guardian Society Home.
The defendants, ranging in age from 34 to 51, have been charged with various car theft related offenses including grand larceny, petit larceny, criminal mischief, auto stripping, possession of burglar’s tools, and criminal possession of stolen property.
Mr. Johnson said the ‘bait car’ used by Bronx DA Detective Investigators assigned to Auto Crime Teams was parked on a section of Southern Boulevard that intersects the Fordham University Campus and the Bronx Botanical Garden. It was a joint operation with the 48th Precinct in response to a recent rash of break-ins involving cars parked in the area.
The first incident occurred around noon on Wednesday afternoon when surveillance teams allegedly observed Angel Perez, 51, throw something at the front passenger side window of a Dodge Stratus that is owned by Catholic Charities. Detectives watched Perez allegedly reach through the shattered glass into the car and take a black Motorola cellular phone before attempting to flee on a bicycle. Perez, of 420 East 169th Street, the Bronx, was arraigned before State Supreme Court Justice Joseph Dawson. Bail was set at $1,000. All charges against Perez are misdemeanor offenses punishable by a maximum sentence of up to one year in jail.
Nearly two hours later, shortly before 2:00 pm, the same police surveillance teams allegedly observed Orlando Rodriguez, 45, Hiram Morales, 34, and Michael Rivera, 40, break the front passenger window of the ‘bait car’ with a large rock and remove from the car a laptop computer, a global positioning system and window mount, a cellular telephone, and other electronic accessories. Rodriguez, of 54-22 102nd Street, Queens, Morales, of 1592 Jessup Avenue, the Bronx, and Rivera, of 3152 Hull Avenue, the Bronx, were arraigned before State Supreme Court Justice John Bryne. Bail was set at $5,000 for Morales and Rivera, while bail for Rodriguez was set at $1,000. The most serious charges against these three defendants are Class E felony offenses punishable by a maximum sentence of up to four years imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney May Che of the Arson/ Auto/ Economic Crimes Bureau.
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