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The trio were
charged on Tuesday with using blowtorches to cut through the
roofs of the banks in Brooklyn and Queens to access the vaults
and steal cash and valuables in April and May of this year,
local and federal law enforcement officials said.
They were captured thanks to surveillance footage and cellphone
data, authorities said, as well as records showing they bought
plywood from Home Depot and blowtorches from a local welder in
order to carry out the crimes.
"These heists resembled scenes from the movie Heat – the work of
a crew that was well organized, meticulous, and elusive to law
enforcement," New York City Police Commissioner Bill Bratton
said in a statement. "The picture slowly came into focus,
resulting in today's arrests and charges."
The three Brooklyn men, named as Michael Mazzara, Charles
Kerrigan and Anthony Mascuzzio, allegedly stole more than $5
million in cash and valuables, including jewelry and baseball
cards. Each faces up to 20 years in prison if found guilty of
bank burglary and conspiracy to commit bank burglary.
(Reporting by Gina Cherelus; Editing by Daniel Wallis and
Marguerita Choy)
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