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Ozone Park Burglar Caught With Jewelry in His Pockets, Cops Say

By Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska | September 25, 2013 11:35am
 Investigators from a specialized burglary unit arrested a man who they say stole jewelry from a home in Ozone Park.
Investigators from a specialized burglary unit arrested a man who they say stole jewelry from a home in Ozone Park.
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Getty Images/Spencer Platt

QUEENS — Investigators from a specialized burglary unit arrested a man who they say stole jewelry from a home in Ozone Park, cops said.

Mario Girau, 28, of Brooklyn, broke into a home on Tahoe Street on Sept. 19, at about 8:25 p.m., police said.

According to the criminal complaint, Girau, who was driving a Chrysler Pacifica, broke into the home through a window.

Cops, who were following him and arrested him soon after, found jewelry in his pants' pocket, according to the complaint. They also found jewelry on the floor of his vehicle.

The owner of the Tahoe Street home said that the stolen jewelry was worth more than $1,000, according to the complaint.

Girau was charged with burglary, criminal possession of stolen property and possession of burglar's tools.

According to records, the suspect has a history of arrests for burglary and attempted burglary, dating back several years.

In 2006, he allegedly broke into a home in South Richmond Hill, stealing a watch, a TV, DVD players and other electronics, according to the criminal complaint. Girau allegedly left a cigarette butt and used glasses at the house, leaving DNA samples behind.

In 2007, according to the criminal complaint, he broke into another home in South Ozone Park and stole a stereo system, DVDs, jewelry and about $3,000. Cops found his fingerprint on the front door.

In 2012, cops matched his DNA and the fingerprint with records in their database.

Girau's lawyer declined to comment.

The suspect arrested last week for committing a series of burglaries in Forest Hills, also drove a Chrysler Pacifica, but it was not immediately clear whether the cases were related.