Bronx woman read obituaries and robbed homes during funerals

[Turk]

A New York City woman made a point to read the obituaries in Westchester County. But police say she wasn't grieving over dead friends or relatives — she was looking for new targets to rob.

A string of burglaries in the area over the last several months led Greenwich police to issue a warning to residents at the end of March: Have someone stay at home when you attend a funeral.

“Criminals read the newspaper, too, to get whatever intelligence they can gather,” John J. Slusarz of the Greenwich Police told Greenwich Time. “Someone passes away, the funeral time is listed, it can be assumed the house is vacant.”

Now police say 26-year-old Latonia Shelecia Stewart of the Bronx would read obituaries, find the names of the deceased's next-of-kin, then break into their home while they were attending the funeral, WPIX reported.

Police called it "a distinct residential burglary pattern throughout various areas within Westchester County," according to the Journal News. New York State Police had information on a potential suspect's car, a silver Acura MDX, that they provided to local police.

Then officers decided to set a trap.

Police say officers waited outside a home of a recently deceased resident and spotted a car that matched the description they'd been given. Police pulled over the car and found Stewart inside with property that had been reported stolen from a home back in February, according to the Bronx News.

She was charged with possession of stolen property and conspiracy to commit burglary, according to NBC New York. She was released on bond.

It's not the first time an alleged burglar has used the obituary section to find targets. A Massachusetts man dubbed the "Obit Bandit" was arrested earlier this year for robbing homes as families attended funerals. Over the years, strings of similar burglaries have occurred across the country, including in Belleville, Illinois, and several counties in northwest Indiana.

She used obituaries to target grieving families, cops say. Then police laid a trap

 

[Yung Pharaoh]

Disgrace to society

 

[UncleTomFord15]

Should be killed off

 

[WesCrook]

It really couldn't have been that difficult for the police to pick up on the trend of burglaries and the fact they were tied funerals.

Setting a trap was easy work. It was only a matter of time.

Greedy broad should have stopped after the first few scores.

 

[CBSwagga]

Genius, but a fool had the plan.

 

[CashmereThoughts]

good ol bronx bishes

 

[FoolinLikeABitvh]

Her funeral comin next

 

[Mr. Negative]

Thats some old school shyt

 

[TaxCollector13459]

Ayo,
They got a special place for people like this

This on equal footing to grave robbing tbh

 

[ndthentherewasx]

clever



too clever




But they really should throw the book at her

Ppl grieving and then coming home to some theft

 

[I Really Mean It]

Dusty thievery.

 

[LurkMoar]

she kinda cute

 

[RNS]

You gonna rob a nikka while they grieving... damn

 

[TL15]

Thats some old school shyt

A time honored hustle

 

[douche]

Bronx woman used obituaries to rob houses as people attended funerals - receives 11 year sentence


Published November 22, 2021 4:08PM
Updated November 23, 2021 8:15AM

article


Latonia Stewart

NEW YORK - A Bronx woman was sentenced to spend at least 11 years in prison for burglarizing homes in New York while families were attending funerals for relatives.

Latonia Stewart, 30, was found guilty last month of burglarizing six homes between 2017 and 2018. A judge sentenced her on Monday.



Stewart had faced a sentence ranging from 3 1/2 years to a maximum of 15 years in state prison on each burglary count. She received a 10-year sentence on each count to run concurrently. In addition, she received a 1-3 year sentence to run consecutively to the 10-year-sentence.

Between December 2017 and May 2018, Stewart burglarized the homes of six Westchester County residents in Cortlandt, Greenburgh, Ossining, Rye Brook, Scarsdale, and Tarrytown who were out of the house attending their spouse’s wake or funeral service.


Stewart targeted the homes after searching through online obituaries.

Jewelry, watches, silverware, and other valuables were stolen. Stewart used a sledgehammer to break windows and glass doors to get into some of the homes.

On May 1, 2018, Greenburgh Police arrested Stewart after seeing her driving away from the home of a deceased person with jewelry in her car and the website with an obituary pulled up on her phone.

Following her arrest, police recovered more stolen items and burglar tools in her car and at her Bronx home.

"It is absolutely appalling that people mourning the loss of a loved one were specifically targeted and taken advantage of in such a cruel and heinous manner," Westchester County District Attorney Miriam Rocah said.


Bronx woman used obituaries to rob houses as people attended funerals