Crime & Safety
Has the Restaurant Bandit Been Caught?
Cops say a suspect who was arrested last week was the likely culprit.
A man who was arrested last Thursday, March 8, for being in violation of his parole was the likely culprit behind a string of restaurant break-ins that occurred throughout Carroll Gardens last month, cops said.
The intelligence department had received a tip that a 40-year-old, Hispanic male with a history of robberies and burglaries in the 76 Precinct was a prime suspect in a series of restaurant burglaries that had struck Osaka, Ghang Thai Kitchen, and Waterfalls Cafe, among others. Following that information, detectives accompanied parole officers during a monthly visitation Thursday morning, at which the criminal was found to be missing.
The unit then canvassed the area, visiting other locations around Gowanus and Carroll Gardens and quickly caught up with him.
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The suspect is said to have resisted arrest, fighting with officers of the 76 Precinct. He was brought back into custody and charged with being in violation of his parole. Cops stated that the suspect will likely be locked up for another six months.
As of yesterday, a week since the suspect has been detained, restaurant burglaries have cooled down. But the case is still considered open and undergoing investigation, cops said.
