Samuel Sabatino, known to authorities as the “Holiday Bandit,” is believed to have stolen $400,000 worth of jewelry and high-end watches.
NYPDPretending he lived in the edifice usually worked well for Sabatino . When it did n’t , he ’d just feign mental confusion and apologize for walk into the amiss building .
Samuel Sabatino seemed like just your everyday 82 - year - honest-to-goodness : sheer wearable , big spectacles , a nonchalant demeanor . What was n’t clear until this Labor Day weekend was that he was the burglary defendant New York City constabulary had been hunting for eld .
Nicknamed the “ Holiday Bandit , ” Sabatino would drop away into apartment buildings and act like he go there , chatting with a tenant as they headed to the lift . If he play a specially sceptical doorman , he ’d but act embarrassed and claim he walked into the incorrect building . He was an affable , unassuming octogenarian , so the bit almost always worked .
NYPDPretending he lived in the building usually worked well for Sabatino. When it didn’t, he’d simply feign confusion and apologize for walking into the wrong building.
If he made it past security measure , he ’d saunter through the hall and bet for flat with pile - up paper outside or unattended software — signs that the tenants were by — and wriggle the doorhandle until he found one that was unbolted .
“ Not your distinctive ski mast - character guy , ” said Lt . Kevin Blake , who oversaw the NYPD ’s Sabatino investigation . “ He looks like your distinctive elderly gentleman . ”
But his in effect hazard alter this preceding Saturday .
NYPDSabatino was caught robbing an Upper East Side apartment in 2001, facing 15 years in prison, when he posted bail and fled.
Sabatino contrive to strike again , driving from Miami to Manhattan to pilfer valuable from empty apartments over Labor Day weekend . This time , however , he was caught by investigator watching him closely .
After a doorman did n’t accredit Sabatino as a tenant and asked him to leave , police policeman greeted him — and his empty black udder — on the sidewalk outside . After years of robbing the rich , Sabatino was finally under arrest .
prosecuting attorney describe the Sabatino case as an “ extensive and high - tech investigation ” that cover multiple states . He ’s facing up to 15 twelvemonth in prison , should he be convicted of his 11 counts of burglary .
Google201 E 79th St., where Sabatino stole more than $100,000 worth of jewelry and watches across three apartments earlier this summer.
For Lt . Blake , quail at Sabatino was a huge weight off his shoulders . “ I ’m relieve because this was becoming a annual occurrence , because we could expect to get hit on Memorial Day , Fourth of July , and Labor Day weekend every summertime , ” he said . “ And it was becoming a spot frustrating that we could n’t get the guy . ”
“ I entail he ’s 82 class sometime , but he was elusive to say the least . ”
Others were n’t so satisfied with his capture .
NYPDSabatino was catch rob an Upper East Side apartment in 2001 , facing 15 years in prison , when he posted bond and fled .
“ Oh no ! ” Sabatino ’s daughter , Trina , cried as she hear the news , wailing in desperation . “ But he ’s 81 ! ”
Police suspect Sabatino was involve in at least 12 burglary since 2014 , though he made a habit of steal things from the great unwashed ’s home as far back as the late sixties .
Back in 2001 , a occupier establish Sabatino inside their Upper East Side apartment . Sabatino , then around 60 year one-time , said he was but checking for a gas pedal leak , but the ruse did n’t work . Once police arrived they discovered 42 items of jewellery and a list of apartments in his pockets .
confront with 15 years in prison , Sabatino posted bond and made a run for it . Using imitation identicalness and hopping from nation to state , he lose the authorities for years .
Assistant District Attorney Rachel Polisner say that Sabatino often went by James Clement . During summer holidays , he ’d drive up to New York — and perhaps California , Arizona , and Pennsylvania , as well — and take advantage of the neglected real estate .
Google201 E 79th St. , where Sabatino stole more than $ 100,000 Charles Frederick Worth of jewelry and lookout across three flat earlier this summer .
He ’s suspected of committing three burglary just this yr : Two couple on East 79th Street found $ 50,000 Charles Frederick Worth of jewelry missing from their apartment within a month of each other , while a couple on East 68th Street find watch worth $ 39,000 missing after vacationing in July .
Ultimately , police pass over him down by follow a vehicle record to James Clement from Florida to New York .
When the doorman of a Third Avenue apartment building expect him to go away , Sabatino said he was there to see his cousin , Suarez . But the doorman knew that no one with that name know in the building . And thus , the constabulary find him with an empty cup of tea .
At Sabatino ’s arraignment on Sunday , Polisner urged the judge to put bail at $ 1 million .
“ This is all he knows , ” said Lieutenant Blake . “ He ’s one of the more brazen that I ’ve seen . He did n’t have any fear of being stopped … .You would never expect a humankind his age to be doing this . ”
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