Nassau County police arrested three men on Friday for allegedly burglarizing a series of homes in Manhasset and Old Westbury, charging them with second-degree burglary.
Brayan Castano, 30, and Andres Zapata, 20, both of Queens, and Oscar Vera, 27, of California were arrested in connection with seven burglaries – five of which occurred in the Manhasset and Old Westbury areas.
Castano and Zapata face seven counts of second-degree burglary, while Vera faces one count of second-degree burglary.
James Kilduff, who appeared in court on Sunday for the three men but is now only representing Castano, said he intends to fight the charges and his client has entered a not guilty plea.
“He maintains his innocence,” Kilduff said, adding that other attorneys will be representing Vera and Zapata.
It is unclear at this time which attorneys will be representing Vera and Zapata.
Police said the arrests were a product of an “extensive investigation” by the Burglary Pattern team, Electronics Squad and Asset Forfeiture Unit.
According to police detectives, the subjects entered residences through rear doors or windows, taking an unclear amount of jewelry, currency and other items.
The first two burglaries took place on May 12, police said, with a Laurel Lane home in Old Westbury being burglarized at 8:37 p.m., followed by a Kensington Circle home in Manhasset at 9:19 p.m. On May 18 at 8:28 p.m. another Laurel Lane home was burglarized, according to police.
A Stone Hill Drive home in Manhasset was burglarized on June 1 at 8:30 p.m., followed by a Woodbury home on June 23 at 8:31 p.m. and another Stone Hill Drive home in Manhasset on Aug. 10 at 9 p.m., police said.
The final robbery was on Sunday, Sept. 21, at a Jericho home at 8:49 p.m., according to police. Court records show that the defendants were arrested within minutes of that alleged incident.
The incidents are unrelated to another set of five burglaries in Manhasset that occurred on or around Plandome Road in June and September, a police spokeswoman said.
“It’s still an open investigation,” the spokeswoman said, “so when they have more they’ll let us know.”
