BULLS HEAD — Police arrested a burglar who stole cash from two Staten Island eateries in the same strip mall last month, after he struck a third location two weeks ago, prosecutors said.
Nicholas Mollenthiel, 24, was arrested for breaking into stores three times from Dec. 5 to Jan. 3 and was also linked to a fourth crime at a nearby bakery on Jan. 6, prosecutors said.
Mollenthiel first broke into the Subway, at 1650 Richmond Ave., between 11 p.m. Dec. 5 and 8:45 a.m. Dec. 6 and swiped $114 from the cash register, prosecutors said.
He then broke into the sushi restaurant Red Ginger in the same mall at roughly 4 a.m. on Dec. 30. He threw a brick through the front window to enter and took about $250 from the register, prosecutors said.
Mollenthiel struck the same Subway on Jan. 3, but at that time, an image of his face was caught on surveillance video while he was smoking a cigarette outside just before the incident.
He only covered his face after he threw a rock through the glass front door at about 3:30 a.m., according to police and the video.
Mollenthiel stumbled as he climbed in through the broken window and took $228 from the cash register inside.
On Jan. 6, Mollenthiel broke into the nearby Enzo and Tino's bakery, at 1949 Richmond Ave., again throwing a brick through the front door to enter, and took $620 from the register, prosecutors said.
He was arrested on Jan. 14 and charged with burglary, criminal mischief, petit larceny and criminal possession of stolen property at his arraignment, according to the Staten Island District Attorney's office.
Mollenthiel's bail was set at $100,000 bond/$50,000 cash and he's due back in court on Feb. 18, according to online court records.
His lawyer, Kelvin Richards, said, "He denies these allegations and we will fight this case."
