New York City law enforcement officers arrested immigrants in the Bronx for their alleged connection to a citywide crime spree that included stealing women’s phones off the street, the latest instance of immigrant-involved crime in the Big Apple.
Three immigrants were arrested early Monday morning, in addition to numerous others who have been arrested in recent weeks related to the crime spree. Police raided an apartment in the Bronx that they said served as a headquarters for the wide-ranging cellphone robbery crew. Many of the members allegedly used mopeds to commit the crimes, per NBC 4 New York.
Officers said they believe they can connect the arrested immigrants to over 50 robberies across New York City. Police searched a building at 2790 Bronx Park East and found stolen goods, including cellphones, some of which the suspects tried to hide or toss out windows as officers entered the building, the New York Police Department said.
Immigrants previously arrested related to the crime spree include Yan Jiminez, Anthony Ramos, Richard Saledo, Beike Jiminez, Maria Manaura, and Cleyber Andrade. The suspects were believed to be part of the robbery team that snatched phones or robbed victims and then brought them back to the Bronx apartment, which was used as a safe house. Jiminez, Saledo, and Ramos were among those released without bail after being charged last month, per the outlet.
The immigrants arrested on Monday morning are all believed to be from Venezuela. They are expected to be charged with multiple robberies and grand larcenies, with police seeking more. Names of the suspects were not provided by the NYPD.
“Most migrants come to NYC in search of a better life. Sadly, some come to commit crimes. While the rest of NYC was sleeping, @NYCMayor, @NYPDChiefPatrol, @NYPDDetectives joined @NYPDnews investigators & specialized teams as we carried out a search warrant — booming a door and making arrests,” NYPD Assistant Commissioner Kaz Daughtry said in a Monday post on X, including footage of officers walking handcuffed immigrants out of a building.
“Today we made tremendous progress in the largest robbery pattern plaguing our city. Our message is simple – commit a crime in our city and we will find you and bring you to justice!” the assistant commissioner continued.
According to crime statistics released on Monday, overall crime reportedly decreased in New York City in January, but there was a slight uptick in robberies.
“For those who think they can come to our country, break our laws, assault our cops, that was not only an assault on an individual. That was an assault on our public safety,” Democratic Mayor Eric Adams said in the video.
The recent arrests come after several immigrants allegedly attacked an NYPD officer and lieutenant outside a shelter near Times Square last week. Though the officers were not badly injured, the incident has caused widespread criticism from both Republicans and Democrats over the growing influx of immigrants in major cities.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg promised on Saturday to charge the immigrants who were caught on camera attacking the two officers, with a plan to bring charges before a grand jury on Tuesday.
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Video footage showed as many as 14 people hitting and kicking the officers as they tried to arrest a man for disorderly conduct. Four of the suspects arrested and charged in that case were released with no bail after court appearances in Manhattan. A fifth suspect, Yohenry Brito, 24, was reportedly later arrested in the alleged attack and was ordered held on Rikers Island on $50,000 bail.
The arrests continue the debate over whether to charge bail for immigrants accused of felonies; they also connect to the broader argument over how New York should be handling the border crisis. According to the most recent press release from Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX), Texas has bused over 37,600 immigrants to New York City since August 2022. Adams has reported that over 157,000 immigrants have arrived in New York City since last year, many requiring housing and other resources.
