ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Six persons have been charged in a five-year, large-scale burglary ring throughout the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas.
Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan made the announcement at a news conference on Friday afternoon.
Charged in the 30 suspected burglaries are Allentown residents Roger Juan Tirado, 53, Agapito Pagan-Liciaga, 48; William Tirado-Liciaga, 65; Nydia Tirado, 59; and Jonathan Mendez, 47; and Jose Luis Torres, 51, of Carnegie, Allegheny County.
Nydia Tirado and Mendez are not in custody.
Roger Tirado, Nydia Tirado, Tirado-Liciaga, Pagan-Liciaga, Torres and Mendez are all charged with Corrupt Organizations and Conspiracy to Corrupt Organization, all felonies of the first degree.
“Four are in custody, but we’re looking for the additional two."Eric Dowdle, first assistant district attorney, Lehigh County
The crimes occurred in Lehigh, Northampton and Berks counties and in at least one home in New Jersey.
Investigators closed in on the burglary ring after receiving a tip that a suspicious vehicle was observed at some of the burglarized homes.
That tip led to the arrest of Roger Tirado and Jose Torres, court documents show.
“Four are in custody, but we’re looking for the additional two,” said First Assistant D.A. Eric Dowdle. “But that’s not to say that (the possibility of further arrests) won’t go on from here.”
The items stolen included at least 37 firearms such as semiautomatic assault weapons, pistols, rifles and high-velocity ammunition.
Other items ranged from large amounts of cash, rare coins, collectible model cars, vintage baseball cards, electronics, stamps, heirlooms, assorted jewelry, financial documents, knives, hand tools and more.
“In this investigation, what was seized is believed to be stolen items worth more than $160,000,” Holihan said.
Entry was made by prying open doors with a flat blade object, breaking windows or through an unsecured entryway, the news release said.
Most of the burglaries occurred during daylight hours. Although most of the homes targeted were unoccupied, in several cases, residents and children were home at the time of the burglaries and the defendants fled after being discovered.
“There were no injuries to any of the residents, but they were terrified,” Dowdle said. “We tracked them down by using cellphone records. When those charged were taken into custody, they had a burglar-starter kit — gloves, masks, screwdrivers, guns.”
The affidavit of probable cause says Tirado and Torres were part of a larger, organized ring that swiped jewelry, firearms, cash, electronics and other valuables in burglaries dating back to 2007. Those burglaries spanned Lehigh, Northampton and Berks counties — as well as incidents in New Jersey.
Other charges include:
- Roger Tirado: Knowledge that Property is the Proceeds of an Illegal Act, Proceeds of Unlawful Act to Avoid a Transaction Reporting Requirement, Conspiracy to Commit Burglary, Receiving Stolen Property and Burglary, all felonies of the first degree; multiple counts of Receiving Stolen Property (misdemeanors of the first, second and third degree); Criminal Use of a Communication Facility, a felony of the third degree; Tampering With/Fabricating Physical Evidence, a misdemeanor of the second degree; Person Not to Possess, Use, Manufacture, Control, Sell or Transfer Firearms; a felony of the second degree; Firearms Not to Be Carried Without a License, a felony of the third degree; Theft, a felony of the third degree, and Possessing an Instrument of Crime, a misdemeanor of the first degree. He is in Lehigh County Jail under $500,000 bail for all charges. Additional charges are pending.
- Nydia Tirado: Dealing in Proceeds Unlawful Act/Intent to Promote and Receiving Stolen Property; both felonies of the first degree; Conspiracy to Receiving Stolen Property, a felony of the third degree; and Tampering With/Fabricating Evidence and Conspiracy to Tampering With/Fabricating Evidence, both misdemeanors of the second degree.
She was free after posting $25,000 bail. However, additional charges have been filed and an arrest warrant has been issued.
- William Tirado-Liciaga: Burglary, Conspiracy to Commit Burglary, Knowledge that Property is the Proceeds of an Illegal Act and Dealing in Proceeds Unlawful Act/Intent to Promote, all felonies of the first degree. He is in Lehigh County Jail under $275,000 bail. • Mendez: Dealing in Proceeds Unlawful Act/Intent to Promote, Knowledge that Property is the Proceeds of an Illegal Act, Receiving Stolen Property and Conspiracy to Commit Receiving Stolen Property, all felonies of the first degree. He is in Lehigh County Jail under $275,000 bail.
- Torres: Burglary, Conspiracy to Commit Burglary and Possession of Firearm Prohibited, all felonies of the first degree; Theft by Unlawful Taking and Firearms Not to Be Carried Without a License, both felonies of the third degree, and Possession of an Instrument of Crime, a misdemeanor of the first degree.
- Pagan-Liciaga: Two counts of Criminal Use of a Communication Facility, a felony of the third degree; Receiving Stolen Property, a felony of the second degree; Tampering With/Fabricating Physical Evidence and Obstructing/Impeding Justice, both misdemeanors of the second degree. Pagan-Liciaga is free after posting $25,000 bail.
This case was investigated by Pennsylvania State Police Troopers, Anthony Oliveri and Galen Clemons; Whitehall Township Police Det. Mark Schwendeman, and South Whitehall Township Det. Tyler Doherty.
As a result of these burglaries, a joint operation was assembled by Pennsylvania State Police as well as officers from South Whitehall Township, Whitehall Township and Upper Saucon Township.
The investigation was also aided by the State police Special Emergency Response Team, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, Pennsylvania State Parole Agents and Northampton and Berks District Attorney Offices.
The case will be prosecuted by Dowdle and Assistant District Attorney Michael Stitt.
