YORK, Pa. — York Police have charged two suspects accused of stealing vehicles and burglarizing stores in and around the city over a three-month span.
Jelani Gassama, 19, and Joseph Lugo-Nazario, 19, both of York, have both been charged in connection to the alleged crimes, and investigators are attempting to determine the identity of a potential third suspect, according to York City Police.
Investigators were able to link multiple incidents to the two suspects using surveillance video and other evidence, police said.
The investigation determined that Gassama and Lugo-Nazario would typically steal a vehicle in the city and burglarize multiple businesses over the course of one night. The burglaries occurred several nights a week between August and November, police claim.
In addition to stealing cars and merchandise from multiple businesses, the suspects also caused "tens of thousands" of dollars worth of damage, according to police.
Gassama was arrested on unrelated charges in October, but the vehicle thefts and burglaries continued, police said. Lugo-Nazario and a third unknown suspect were observed on video committing similar crimes after Gassama’s arrest.
Gassama is charged with 21 counts of burglary and four counts of theft for stealing motor vehicles.
Lugo-Nazario was taken into custody by investigators with help from the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force on Wednesday, according to police.
He is charged with 31 counts of burglary and five counts of theft for stealing motor vehicles, according to police.
Investigators say they are still trying to determine the identity of the third suspect seen committing burglaries with Lugo-Nazario after Gassama's arrest.
