Guilty Plea in Parking Lot Smash-&-Grabs

Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore announced today that Caisy Frank, 34, of Queens plead guilty to:

• one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class “C” Violent Felony,

• one count of Forgery in the Second Degree, a class “D” Felony,

• one count of Identity Theft in the Third Degree, a class “A” Misdemeanor.

In March of 2012, the Westchester County Police began an investigation into numerous car break-ins which were occurring through out the County in the parking lots of public parks and fitness clubs.

A multi-agency task force which included the Westchester County Police, the Mount Pleasant Police Department, the Yorktown Police Department, the Village of Mamaroneck Police Department and the Yonkers Police Department developed a pattern of “smash and grab” break-ins and with the assistance of witnesses, video surveillance and persistent police work, they were able to identify the defendant as the perpetrator of these crimes.

The defendant would break into vehicles and take credit cards, cash and computer equipment and then would assume the identity of the card holder to use the credit cards at retail stores in the County.

On March 21, 2013, the defendant broke into a number of cars including a retired police officer’s vehicle and took several items from his vehicle including the officer’s loaded firearm. The multi-agency task force working cooperation with one another apprehended the defendant and he was arrested by the Westchester County Police at the Ridge Hill Shopping Center in Yonkers.

The defendant will be sentenced on September 30, 2014.

He faces a maximum of 15 years in state prison.

Assistant District Attorneys Cheryl Lee and Kristina Dushaj of the Investigations Division prosecuted this case.