Queens Man Sentenced to 7 Years over Car Break-ins in Mount Pleasant, Elsewhere

Caisy Frank of Queens was sentenced today to seven years in prison in connection with a series of car break-ins throughout Westchester County. The 35-year-old had pleaded guilty in August 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.

Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore said the Westchester County Police began an investigation back in 2012 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 Frank as the perpetrator of these crimes.

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

On March 21, 2013, he 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. He was apprehended at the Ridge Hill Shopping Center in Yonkers.

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