Pair Arrested For String Of Burglaries Dating Back To July

A joint investigation by Rockville Centre and Nassau police lead to the arrest of two people in Rockville Centre Saturday night in connection with a string of burglaries dating back to last July.

According to Nassau detectives, Rockville Centre police officers saw a gray Chrysler minivan with a Tennessee license plate on Sunrise Highway in Lynbrook being driven by a female with a male passenger in the front seat at 8:38 p.m., and then conducted a traffic stop.

Further investigation by Nassau County and Rockville Centre officers identified the occupants as Juan Carlos Lora, 34, of Beach Channel Drive, Far Rockaway, and Michelle J. Depra, 26, of West Graham Street, Hempstead -- two people wanted in connection with a string of burglaries in Freeport, Merrick and Lynbrook, where the glass front doors of stores were removed and cash registers were stolen.

According to police, the two burglarized the following businesses:

• July 1, 2016: Next Level Cellular and Audio, 10 Smith St., Freeport
• July 2, 2016: Sazon Latino Corp. Deli, 76 E. Merrick Road, Freeport
• July 2, 2016: Wilson Freeport Deli, 100 Broadway, Freeport
• July 2, 2016: Freeport Deli and Grill, 63 Buffalo Ave., Freeport
• Feb. 7, 2017: Smith Street Deli, 241 Smith St., Merrick
• Feb. 7, 2017: Sunoco Gas Station, 279 Atlantic Ave., Freeport
• Feb. 7, 2017: UNG Bakery, 101 Broadway, Lynbrook

Lora is charged with six counts of burglary, one count of attempted burglary and criminal sale of marijuana. Depra is charged with two counts of burglary and one count of attempted burglary. Both were scheduled to be arraigned on Sunday in First District Court in Hempstead.

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