Acting Bergen County Prosecutor Dennis Calo announced the arrest of Frank Lashvili, 52, of River Vale, NJ.
According to authorities, in the early morning hours of October 22, 2017, perpetrators cut a hole in the roof of Le Cristal Jewelry in Englewood to gain entry into the store. Officials said once inside the suspects stole approximately $275,000 in jewelry.
An investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and the Englewood Police Department revealed that the burglary was committed by a burglary crew comprised by Kevin Lyde, 55, of Brooklyn, NY and other suspects who are still at large.
The investigation revealed that Lyde and other suspects, who are still at large, are also responsible for several other jewelry store burglaries throughout the New York City tristate area that followed the same modus operandi. Police said that following the commission of the burglaries, Lyde and others would “fence” the stolen jewelry to Lashvili.
Police on Apr. 5th, arrested Lashvili in River Vale and charged him with two counts of fencing and two counts of receiving stolen property.
Additionally, during the early morning hours of Apr. 5th, members of the New Rochelle (NY) Police Department, the Westchester (NY) County District Attorney’s Office, the Port Chester (NY) Police Department, and the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office executed search warrants at various locations in Brooklyn and Manhattan related to a burglary of the New Rochelle Coin, Stamp and Jewelers in New Rochelle, NY on Feb. 2nd, wherein approximately $1,000,000 in jewelry was stolen.
Police arrested Kevin Lyde and Kevin Young, 55, Brooklyn, NY, and charged them in the State of New York with Grand Larceny 1st Degree, a Class B Felony, and Burglary 3rd Degree, a Class D Felony.
Additional charges are expected to be filed in both New Jersey and New York in the coming days against Lyde, Young, Lashvili, and other suspects who are still at large.
Acting Prosecutor Calo states that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.