Four men who are part of the South American Theft group were arrested for a number of burglaries that occurred in Garden City two months ago.
On December 10, 2024 at 5:30 p.m., Sergio Rodriguez-Lopez, 36, of 150-12 25th Avenue, Flushing, and others who were not apprehended allegedly entered a Brook Street residence through a rear sliding door and allegedly took assorted jewelry and $1,000 cash. Rodriguez-Lopez and the other suspects were seen in a 2018 BMW X5 with New Jersey license plates. This vehicle was also captured on Garden City license plate readers. This incident occurred
On December 18, 2024 at 10:14 p.m. Rodriguez-Lopez, Adolfo Montes-Gomez, 40, of 49 Meadow Street, Garden City and at least one other suspect allegedly broke the rear sliding door of a Pine Street residence and allegedly attempted to gain entry into the home. Nothing was reported missing. The house alarm sounded and suspects left the scene in a 2020 BMW X1 and a 2018 BMW X5 captured on Garden City plate readers.
On December 20, 2024 at 11:23 p.m., Sergio Rodriguez-Lopez, Montes-Gomez, Brandon Montano, 29, of 150-12 25th Avenue, Flushing, Stephen Montenegro, 42, 1002 North Main Street, Jamestown, New York and another unnamed suspect allegedly broke open a second-floor rear window of a Pine Street residence and allegedly attempted to gain entry. The defendants were seen leaving in a 2020 BMW X1 with New York license plates and a 2018 BMW X5 with New Jersey license plates. Both vehicles were captured on neighbor’s cameras and Garden City license plate readers.
On February 27, 2025 at 9:40 p.m. Garden City Detectives and Nassau County Police Department Burglary Pattern Squad Detectives were conducting surveillance when the defendants were stopped by NYPD for a Vehicle and Traffic law violation while returning to Flushing from Danbury, Connecticut, where they are suspects in a burglary in that jurisdiction. The defendants were placed into custody and transported to Garden City for processing.
Rodriguez-Lopez is charged with three counts of second-degree burglary. Montes-Gomez is charged with two counts of second-degree burglary. Montano and Montenegro are charged with second-degree burglary. The defendants are part of the South American Theft group, and ongoing investigations are being conducted with the Suffolk County Police Department and Danbury Police Department.