Man indicted for string of burglaries, 1 in V.S.

The man arrested in June for a string of overnight burglaries targeting businesses across Nassau County, one of them at Shoe Repair in Valley Stream, was arraigned on Dec. 2 in Nassau County Supreme Court on a 21-count indictment.

Joseph Borelli, 42, of Howard Beach, Queens — it was initially reported that Borelli was from Brooklyn — was arraigned before Acting Supreme Court Justice Helene Gugerty on 10 counts of third-degree burglary, 10 counts of second-degree criminal mischief and possession of burglar’s tools. Borelli was held on $450,000 cash or bond bail. He is due back in court on Jan. 5. He faces a maximum of 3-1/2 to seven years in prison on each top count.

“The defendant’s alleged avarice knew no bounds, and he stole everything from lottery tickets at mom-and-pop delis to jewelry at boutique stores,” said Acting District Attorney Madeline Singas. “The defendant’s alleged ‘smash and grab’ burglary spree ended when our partners in the Nassau County Police Department, working with our office, arrested him in June.”

Singas said that Borelli allegedly stole more than $200,000 in jewelry, cash and other items. Approximately $7,000 worth of jewelry was stolen from Shoe Repair, on West Merrick Road, on May 11, according to police.

Borelli was initially charged for nine burglaries. His co-defendants, Edan Balila and Rotem Balila, both of Great Neck, were arrested and charged with accompanying Borelli on one burglary each, on separate dates. Neither was charged with the Valley Stream incident. Both men pleaded guilty to one count each of third-degree burglary and are awaiting sentencing.

Nassau County police identified a burglary pattern and worked with the NCPD DA Squad and the NCPD Organized Crime and Rackets Bureau for six months to track and arrest Borelli and his co-defendants, using video surveillance and court-authorized GPS tracking, according to the district attorney’s office.

Borelli’s lawyer is Christopher Becktel. Rotem Balila is represented by attorney Oscar Holt and Edan Balila is represented by attorney Paul Delle.