Three charged in Wantagh auto burglary

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Three men were arrested and charged with breaking into automobiles in the vicinity of Douglas Avenue and Whitehall Lane in Wantagh on Monday at 2:25 a.m.

According to First Squad detectives, the Nassau County Police Department received a call that cars were being vandalized, and on responding, observed two young men in the area, as well as a preponderance of broken auto glass. The police realized that the men had broken into the cars and "were in possession of stolen goods from the autos," according to an NCPD news release on the incident.

Police then discovered a third man hiding in a separate vehicle and in possession of allegedly stolen goods. Further investigation revealed that the white SUV in which the third man was hiding was also stolen.

The police placed the three under arrest without further incident. They were identified as Joshua Bonilla, 21, of Union City, N.J., who was charged with grand larceny, third-degree petit larceny, and unauthorized use of a vehicle; and Anthony Pierre, 21, of Brooklyn, who was charged with petit larceny, unauthorized use of a vehicle and criminal possession of stolen goods. Both were arraigned in First District Court, Hempstead, on Oct. 8.

The third defendant, a juvenile, 16, was not named, but was charged with petit larceny and unauthorized use of a vehicle. He is scheduled to appear in family court at a later date, according to the release.