DA: More Charges Possible for Local Cat Burglar

Up to 15 more charges could be coming for an alleged cat burglar in connection with a home robbery spree from Lindenhurst to North Babylon earlier this year, Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said at a press Tuesday morning.

Suffolk County Police of Errol Barham, Jr., 22 of Copiague, on Monday, and charged him with six counts of burglary in the second degree and one attempted burglary in the second degree in Lindenhurst.

Barham was also charged with one count of unlawful possession of marijuana.

Spota said detectives arrested Barham after finding him riding through Sherbrooke Road and Jackson Avenue in North Lindenhurst on July 4 at 1:35 a.m. with a hoodie on, fully covering his head although it was a very hot, humid evening.

Police said they found a mostly empty backpack on his person, containing a box cutter, gloves, pliers and a screwdriver. He was arrested then for possession of burglary items.

A further investigation after obtaining a search warrant for Barham's home found many reported stolen items including jewelry, cameras, laptops, an iPad and credit cards.

Spota said Barham would use a box cutter to slit an opening through screen windows, then push open sliding windows or doors to get into homes usually between 12 a.m. and 4 a.m. while homeowners were sound asleep.

The DA also said Barham could face further charges in up to 15 other home robberies.

He said the Suffolk County Crime Investigation Bureau was currently still investigating whether or not burglaries in other areas such as West Babylon, North Babylon and Deer Park were connected. He also noted those crimes involved the same methods of break-ins that Barham allegedly used in Lindenhurst.

The SCPD issued an advisory to area residents last month warning them about potential break-ins following a rash of home robberies in the past months.

Barnham's currently incarcerated in the Suffolk County jail in lieu of $70,000 cash bail, according to authorities.

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