Local Serial Burglar Sentenced

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance announced the sentencing last week of Justin John, 20, to 6-to-12 years in state prison for burglarizing eight private commercial buildings in Chelsea and the West Village. On June 26, the defendant pleaded guilty to all eighteen counts in the indictment, including multiple counts of Burglary in the Third Degree, Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, and Petit Larceny.

As admitted in his guilty plea, John committed eight separate incidents of theft and larceny between May 9, 2012, and August 14, 2012, at the following locations: 10 West 37th Street, 118 West 22nd Street, 247 West 35th Street, 138 5th Avenue, 121 Varick Street, 128 Mott Street, and 26 Little West 12th Street. Two of the thefts occurred on August 14, 2012, on different floors of 121 Varick Street.

In one burglary that occurred at approximately 7 p.m. on August 6, 2012, John entered a commercial building at 10 West 37th Street. He gained access into the locked building by waiting for an individual to leave before entering through the door. John rode the elevator to the 10th, 9th, 8th, and 7th floors before stepping off the elevator on the 6th floor and walking into an office of a record label, where he stole an employee's laptop.

On at least one instance, John entered an office under the pretense of soliciting charitable donations. While employees were distracted, John took laptops or other small electronics from empty offices. The electronics were later sold or exchanged for cash.