Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Ex-Con Pleads Guilty to String of Manhattan Restaurant Robberies

hand cuffs
hand cuffs
View Full Caption
Flickr/cdogstar

MANHATTAN SUPREME COURT— An ex-con accused of stealing nearly $25,000 in cash, as well as liquor, computers and even a couple racks of ribs during a two-month Manhattan robbery spree pleaded guilty Monday to burglary charges.

Shawn McAleese, 43, broke into eight restaurants and bars between May 3 and June 30, including Molly’s Irish Pub in Hell's Kitchen, where he made off with $4,000, bottles of liquor and a printer on May 16, according to court records.

Less than two weeks after Molly’s, McAleese, who resides in Hell’s Kitchen, stole laptops, saki, two racks of ribs and more than $8,000 from another local spot, Japanese restaurant Kyotofu.

But on June 17, he landed his biggest score — stealing $11,200 after breaking into organic burger shop Bareburger in Chelsea, court records show.

The thief, who was also convicted in 2006 of felony burglary, never used a weapon and broke into shops after-hours. Cops arrested McAleese in July after identifying him on security camera footage.

McAleese's lawyer, Brian Pakett, said his client is a "very sweet man" who's sorry for what he's done, but his addiction to cocaine fueled the thefts.

"He never wanted to harm anyone," Pakett told reporters after McAleese pleaded guilty. "He's been supporting a drug problem."

McAleese is also accused of striking The Ritz nightclub in Hell’s Kitchen on June 26, as well as Royal Pizza/The Famous Chicken Place in Murray Hill, and an Upper East Side Chipotle.

He's scheduled for sentencing on Sept. 12.