Three New Jersey men indicted for Nassau County-wide burglary spree

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Three New Jersey men indicted for Nassau County-wide burglary spree
Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly. (Photo courtesy of District Attorney Anne Donnelly)

Three New Jersey men were indicted for a three-week-long burglary spree targeting high-end vehicles throughout Nassau County, according to the county District Attorney’s Office.

“Over three weeks during the holiday season, these defendants allegedly went on a burglary spree, targeting more than a dozen homes in Nassau County communities and making off with cash and cars. The defendants are allegedly part of a burglary crew that breaks into homes hunting for key fobs to steal luxury vehicles that can then be stripped of their GPS devices and resold overseas,” District Attorney Anne Donnelly said. “We are seeing more break-ins taking place in our neighborhoods while residents are home.”

The three are alleged to have broken into dozens of homes, both unsuccessfully and successfully, in Lake Success, Woodmere, Valley Stream, Roslyn, Roslyn Heights, New Hyde Park, Lawrence, Syosset, Mineola, and Franklin Square.

The crime spree took place from Dec. 20 through Jan. 13, according to the DA’s office.

The DA’s office said the three men, who were from Newark, N.J., were indicted on burglary, grand larceny, and weapons charges.

The DA’s office said the three men are allegedly part of a burglary crew that breaks into homes to retrieve car key fobs and steal vehicles in New Jersey and New York.

Jawaun Whitted, 22, was charged Wednesday with a 20-count indictment, including multiple burglary charges, attempted burglary, grand larceny, and weapons charges.

Fazon Farrington, 19, and Raquil Hayes, 21, were arraigned on June 26. Farrington was indicted on 18 counts and Hayes was indicted on seven counts.

Farrington’s charges include burglary, attempted burglary, grand larceny and weapons-related crimes. Hayes was charged with attempted burglary and weapons-related crimes.

Only Whitted and Farrington were charged with burglaries. Hayes was charged with attempted burglaries.

Whitted and Hayes were arrested on Jan. 13 after fleeing in a 2021 BMW sedan from an alleged attempted burglary and then crashing into a Lake Success Police Department vehicle.

The two then attempted to flee on foot but were apprehended by police, according to the DA’s office.

Their getaway car was searched under a warrant and police recovered a fully loaded black Glock firearm from the car. The Glock also had a “Glock switch” which the DA’s office said makes the firearm fully automatic.

Farrington was later arrested on March 14 by Nassau County Police Department Burglary Pattern Squad detectives, according to the DA’s office.

The DA’s office said the three men used a crowbar to break into homes through doors and windows in the dead of night. Break-ins were typically reported after midnight.

The DA’s office said many burglaries were unsuccessful due to home alarm systems going off or being seen by residents.

Successful attempts reported included stealing a 2024 BMW and 2019 Mercedes Benz from a Franklin Square home in December, the first successful burglary reported. The estimated value of the two cars is $218,000, according to the DA’s office.

Other items stolen included a pocketbook and child’s bookbag from a Syosset home, a BMW X7, ​​a Louis Vuitton handbag, credit cards and $180 cash from a Mineola home, a 2024 BMW X7 from a New Hyde Park home, a $50,000 white BMW X7 SUV from a Lawrence home, a $130,000 BMW 760 from a Woodmere home, and a $170,000 white 2023 Audi RS6 and red Jeep Cherokee from a Hewlett Harbor home.

Donnelly offered advice for homeowners in the instance their home is burglarized.

“It is important to take steps to protect your home, including ensuring that all windows and doors are closed and locked when you turn in for the night,” Donnelly said. “Together with our partners in the multi-jurisdictional Burglary & Stolen Car Task Force we will continue to arrest and prosecute these crews for violating our residents’ safety and security.”

Whitted is scheduled back in court on Sept. 12. His bail was set at $250,000 cash, $500,000 bond and $2.5 million partially secured bond.

Farrington is scheduled back in court on Friday. His bail is set at $1 million bond.

Hayes is scheduled back in court Sept. 4. His bail is set at $100,000 bond.

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