July 29, 2009
Over the last two weeks, officers in the South Division have uncovered a professional burglary ring with national and international connections. Burglars targeted high-end homes in New York and south Charlotte, and jewelry was the most commonly stolen item.
On July 18, an officer responded to a 911 call about a suspicious vehicle on Colony Rd. The officer observed a vehicle that matched the description and followed it. After he determined that the registration and insurance were valid, the officer did not stop the vehicle.
Approximately 15 minutes later, officers responded to a 911 burglary in progress call at a residence on Colony Rd. The owners had observed two males running from the house when they returned home. As part of the investigation of this incident, officers began looking for the suspicious vehicle reported earlier. The tag information led officers to a rental company, and information gotten there took them to an apartment in Pineville. The Response Area Commander and several members of his Focused Mission Team went to the apartment and made contact with the four occupants. One matched the description of a subject seen fleeing the Colony Rd. burglary location. A witness who was transported to the apartment positively identified Christian Aguirre as one of the males observed earlier.
Officers obtained and executed a search warrant for the apartment that resulted in the confiscation of two ounces of cocaine and several items subsequently identified as stolen from three other South Division burglaries. Based on these discoveries, officers obtained warrants on Refugio Castanon, Carlos Bonetti and Fidel Sandoval.
Officers continued observation of the apartment, and on Tuesday, July 21, suspicious individuals returned to the apartment in an apparent attempt to recover property still there. As they left, officers conducted a traffic stop. Refugio Castanon attempted to run but was quickly apprehended. Darwin Cruz, the second occupant, was arrested for not having a drivers license. A duffel bag containing $25,600 was found in the vehicle and confiscated.
During the arrest processing, Castanon's fingerprints were entered into the P.I.D. (Positive Identification) system. The system alerted jail staff that Refugio Castanon was actually Pablo Castro and wanted by New York authorities. Castro had been featured on "America's Most Wanted".
On Thursday, July 23, South Division detectives received information that Carlos Bonetti was in Rock Hill, SC. Rock Hill Police were notified, and they quickly apprehended him.
This is a very complex investigation, but based on information gained from the Search Warrant and New York authorities, CMPD believes that this group has been operating in south Charlotte since 2006. Stolen items were shipped to the New York City area, and some were later shipped to Columbia, South America.
The investigation is continuing, and anyone with information on these subjects is asked to call South Division burglary detectives at 704.544.4835.
