Courts. (Credit: LevittownNow.com)
A major burglary ring that stretched across Pennsylvania, and specifically hit homes in Abington and nearby townships, has been dismantled thanks to the work of Abington Township detectives and Montgomery County investigators.
Four men connected to the “sophisticated” South American theft ring have now been sentenced to state prison, according to a report.
Juan Guerrero-Acosta, 26, of Queens, N.Y., was sentenced to 4–10 years in state prison. Roger Pinilla-Pardo, 22, of Fresh Meadows, N.Y., received 3½–10 years, while Juan Meneses-Munoz, 19, of College Point, N.Y., and Misael Angel Sanchez, 52, of Rego Park, N.Y., each received 4–10 years. All four pleaded guilty to burglary-related charges under plea agreements imposed by Judge Risa Vetri Ferman. As Colombian nationals, they may also face deportation after serving their terms.
The men were among 11 suspects charged last year after investigators uncovered an organized burglary crew operating out of Queens. Detectives linked the group to 13 residential burglaries and three attempted break-ins between July and October 2024, with crimes stretching from Montgomery, Bucks, Chester, and Delaware counties to Berks, Lancaster, Lehigh, Northampton, and Cambria. Locally, homes in Abington, Horsham, Lower Merion, and Towamencin were among those struck. Stolen items included jewelry, cash, designer handbags, and other valuables, with restitution for victims set at more than $318,000.
Prosecutors said the thieves deliberately targeted Asian-American families, believing they kept cash and valuables at home tied to their businesses. Assistant District Attorney Gabriella Eileen Glenning said the burglars conducted surveillance in chilling detail, hiding cameras disguised in fake grass outside homes, posing as joggers or delivery drivers to scope out neighborhoods, and even sending team members to victims’ businesses to confirm when families were away.
“The scariest part of this was the surveillance,” Glenning said. “To know you’re just going about your day, unaware there’s a hidden camera on your front lawn, is terrifying.”
Abington detectives Dan Bullock and Robert Hill Jr., working with Montgomery County Detective Steve Fink, led the complex investigation. According to court filings, the group operated with “high-quality attention to detail,” mapping out homes and roles much like a law enforcement operation. Members acted as lookouts, broke into homes, transported stolen goods, and sold proceeds.
“These crimes were not random,” detectives wrote. “They followed a clear pattern, using advanced planning, disguises, and technology to repeatedly exploit families across the state.”
Assistant District Attorney Glenning credited Abington police with driving the investigation forward. “Multiple jurisdictions throughout the state were involved, but it was really Abington police and county detectives who took the lead,” she said. “They worked tirelessly to ensure justice for these victims.”
While several members of the ring still await trial, officials said the sentences handed down last week mark a significant step toward accountability in a case that shook local families and communities.
