Plainview Man Charged in Dry Cleaner Burglaries

A 24-year-old Plainview man was arrested on Monday and charged with burglarizing two dry cleaner businesses on the same day last September.

Rafael Sanchez surrendered to police at the Second Precinct in Woodbury at 5 p.m. Monday, police said. He is charged with two counts of third degree burglary, as well as one count each of fourth degree grand larceny and fourth degree criminal mischief.

According to police, Sanchez and another person who has not yet been apprehended, broke into Melody Dry Cleaners, located at 2050 Hempstead Turnpike in East Meadow, at 1:30 a.m. on Sept. 26. They stole an undisclosed amount of cash, clothing, and two computers from the business and then stole a van from the parking lot, police said.

Five hours later, the same people broke into Pamper Cleaners, located at 505 Plainview Road in Plainview, through an exhaust duct, police said. An undisclosed amount of cash was taken from the business and the thieves fled, leaving the stolen van behind, police said.

An investigation determined that Sanchez, of 555 Plainview Road, was one of the two people involved in the burglaries, police said. He will be arraigned on Tuesday at First District Court in Hempstead.