DONGAN HILLS — A Connecticut man has been indicted for helping the prolific "Ninja Burglar" break into one Staten Island home in 2013 and steal $3,000 worth of property, prosecutors said Monday.
Geovani Melendez, 47, was indicted for one count of burglary for helping Robert Costanzo, dubbed the "Ninja Burglar," break into one home during his decades-long spree, District Attorney Michael McMahon announced Monday.
"This defendant acted together with the infamous 'Ninja Burglar' to allegedly break into a private residence and steal a homeowner’s valuable possessions," McMahon said in a statement.
"My team and I have worked tirelessly to ensure that all involved in this terrifying crime spree are held accountable for their actions."
Melendez was arraigned Friday for his role in the Staten Island case and was held on $50,000 bail, the DA said.
Costanzo, a convicted rapist, targeted more than 200 homes in Staten Island, New Jersey, Upstate New York and Connecticut and stole more than $4 million worth of property during his spree, prosecutors said.
The "Ninja Burglar" — who does not know karate — admitted to more than 100 burglaries in Staten Island alone, but could only be charged for three between 2011 and 2015 because the statue of limitation had run out for the earlier crimes, authorities said.
Costanzo, 47, pleaded guilty to those three charges last year and was sentenced to 22 years in prison in May.
One of those cases included a Jan. 3, 2013 break-in at a Jenna Lane home where Melendez served as an accomplice to Costanzo, prosecutors said. The pair stole more than $3,000 worth of jewelry and other property from that location, officials said.
Melendez has not been connected to any of the other break-ins throughout Staten Island but he was arrested for a 2014 one with Costanzo in Connecticut, the Hartford Courant reported.
On April 24, 2014, Melendez drove Costanzo to a Farmington home where he broke in and held a 66-year-old woman by knifepoint while he ordered her to open a safe, the Courant reported.
Costanzo made out with $75,000 worth of jewelry and Melendez drove him back to Staten Island.
Melendez pleaded guilty to hindering prosecution last year for that case and was sentenced to three years in prison.
From 2005 to 2015, Costanzo broke into homes around the tri-state area to support his five children and gambling addiction, investigators said. The owners were usually home during and Costanzo wore all black with his face covered, resembling a ninja.
The "Ninja Burglar" nickname came from a 2007 burglary where a Dongan Hills resident said he came face to mask with a nunchuck-wielding burglar but Costanzo wasn't tied to that crime.
Costanzo said in a taped confession he was aware of the moniker but never used it himself nor trained in martial arts.
Eventually, law enforcement in six counties linked Costanzo to the 10-year spree but had trouble pinning him down because he only left a trace of DNA in one of the homes.
They got a break when they searched his home and found a inscribed watch that had been reported stolen.
