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DA: More Charges Possible for Local Cat Burglar

Suffolk DA Thomas Spota said he expects the alleged burglar to face up to 15 additional charges in connection with local robberies.

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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Adam Crowley May 15, 2013 at 06:53 pm
As I explained, my post was made on behalf of another village resident. However, I did take theRead More time to read the statute and do have an independent viewpoint on this subject. While I do not feel that all dogs require a muzzle at all times, if you have a dog that you know to be a threat to other dogs or humans, you would have a duty to take measures to eliminate that threat before bring that dog into public. If that measure is a muzzle, then that's what must be done. As my post indicated, I believe strict enforcement would be exceedingly difficult and, perhaps, unnecessary (at least with respect to the muzzle requirement). However, a total lack of enforcement is dangerous and unacceptable. I think a little common sense goes a long way and I have confidence that those charged with enforcing the Village code could do so selectively. I understand that selective enforcement may be a concept that many feel uncomfortable with. However, just because the law requires a muzzle, that is hardly a reason to disregard it in its entirety and allow dogs with vicious propensities to roam around unleashed. I will leave it up to Village lawmakers to remove the muzzle requirement (and suggest that they do so) if that is what it would take to make people comfortable with the leash requirement.
Concerned Citizen May 15, 2013 at 05:37 pm
Did you read the law? unless it be properly muzzled and effectively restrained by a chain or leashRead More I'll bet neither dog was muzzled Do you really want them to enforce this law