A burglar armed with an axe smashed his way into two Upper East Side jewelry stores but didn’t get far with more than $140,000 in merchandise swiped in the cover of night, police confirm to Upper East Site.
Around 2:00 am Friday, NYPD officers responded to a call of a man shattering a jewelry store with an axe; one of two burglaries at 998 and 1001 Madison Avenue, the Sidney Garber and Alexis Bittar jewelry stores, which sit across from each other between East 77th and 78th Streets.
At the scene, they found the window at Sidney Garber smashed open, the pricey jewels worth $100,000 on display for wealthy shoppers to see gone. Across the street at Alexis Bittar, another $40,000 in jewels was stolen.
ALSO READ | TUMI Targeted in Latest Madison Avenue Luxury Store Smash & Grab
Upper East Side cops quickly began canvassing the area, searching for the suspect, and within minutes busted a 35-year-old Brooklyn man for the crime.
Frantzcy Dorelien, who police say was already on probation for burglary, was collared by cops and slapped with a long list of charges, including two counts of burglary, two counts of grand larceny, possession of stolen property, and criminal possession of a weapon.
The NYPD’s 19th Precinct increased overnight patrols earlier this year in response to a surge in burglaries, particularly those targeting businesses, with the efforts paying dividends.
ALSO READ | Nearly $500k in Luxury Handbags, Jewelry Stolen in Madison Avenue Heist
According to crime reporting data, the increase in burglaries has fallen to just over 15% more than last year. That’s down from nearly 25% just a few weeks ago when police warned business owners not to keep cash in their stores overnight.
The NYPD is even going as far as telling them to keep their cash registers open and lights on so that would-be burglars know nothing inside is worth breaking in for.
Dorelien is being held on $150,000 bail.
