Staten Island Ninja
Encyclopedia
The Staten Island Ninja, also known as the ninja burglar or ninja bandit, is a burglar who broke into homes in the Staten Island
borough of New York City
and stole from them while dressed as a ninja
. He may have hit about nineteen homes since June, 2007. He has been described by investigators as a white male, dressed in black and what appears to be a ski mask. He is reported to be between 5 feet 8 inches and 6 feet tall, and weighs roughly 180 pounds. He primarily works at night on Wednesdays, although he has hit during the day and on every other day of the week as well. His target is mainly wealthier homes on Staten Island
, particularly in the more affluent neighborhood of Todt Hill
.
, said the ninja bandit was the number one story of Staten Island for the year 2007.
man believed to be connected to the string of break-ins.
The police department dismantled the team in charged of hunting for the burglar after their forensic and investigative leads were exhausted, but "investigators believe that an individual suspected (but with insufficient evidence to make an arrest) of being the burglar is among three Albanian
nationals currently facing deportation because of their illegal status in the United States."
Investigators were first clued into a possible Albanian
connection when they learned that several men, from the same area of Albania
, had formed a loosely knit group to commit burglaries. One member of the group was arrested in the middle of a Grasmere burglary in November 2007, after the home owner caught him in the middle of the burglary and called the police. A second member was arrested in January 2008, in connection with a May 27, 2007 break-in, after he allegedly left his fingerprints on the scene. His case is still pending, and the federal government has started deportation proceedings against him. Two other members of the group were believed responsible for several of the break-ins in the Ninja Burglar case, but were never charged. Instead, police contacted federal immigration officials who started deportation proceedings against those two members of the group.
Police brass have long been loath to acknowledge the serial burglar's "Ninja" nickname, and they refer to the spree - which began last May 30 - simply as "Pattern 16."
Monday, June 16, 2008 marks another reported incident implicating the "Ninja Burglar", this time robbing a Hewlet Harbor home in Long Island.
On August 4, 2009 a robbery on Sabrina Ln. In Staten Island is believed to be the "Return of the Ninja", which leads to speculation whether or not the Ninja was ever caught.
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
borough of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and stole from them while dressed as a ninja
Ninja
A or was a covert agent or mercenary of feudal Japan specializing in unorthodox arts of war. The functions of the ninja included espionage, sabotage, infiltration, and assassination, as well as open combat in certain situations...
. He may have hit about nineteen homes since June, 2007. He has been described by investigators as a white male, dressed in black and what appears to be a ski mask. He is reported to be between 5 feet 8 inches and 6 feet tall, and weighs roughly 180 pounds. He primarily works at night on Wednesdays, although he has hit during the day and on every other day of the week as well. His target is mainly wealthier homes on Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
, particularly in the more affluent neighborhood of Todt Hill
Todt Hill
Todt Hill [elevation 410 ft ] is a hill formed of serpentine rock on Staten Island, New York. It is the highest natural point in the five boroughs of New York City and the highest elevation on the entire Atlantic Coastal Plain from Florida to Cape Cod., The summit of the ridge is largely covered...
.
Notoriety
The Staten Island Ninja had garnered a large response from the general public. While some regard him as a joke, the New York Police Department had found him a serious threat, having dedicated two task forces of 36 officers to his case. There was a $6,000 reward from the city for his capture. The local newspaper, the Staten Island AdvanceStaten Island Advance
The Staten Island Advance is a daily newspaper published in the borough of Staten Island in New York City. The only daily newspaper published in the borough, and the only borough to have its own major daily paper, it covers news of local and community interest, including borough politics. As of...
, said the ninja bandit was the number one story of Staten Island for the year 2007.
Case closed
On April 23, 2008 police quietly closed case after authorities started deportation proceedings against at least one AlbanianAlbanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
man believed to be connected to the string of break-ins.
The police department dismantled the team in charged of hunting for the burglar after their forensic and investigative leads were exhausted, but "investigators believe that an individual suspected (but with insufficient evidence to make an arrest) of being the burglar is among three Albanian
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
nationals currently facing deportation because of their illegal status in the United States."
Investigators were first clued into a possible Albanian
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
connection when they learned that several men, from the same area of Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
, had formed a loosely knit group to commit burglaries. One member of the group was arrested in the middle of a Grasmere burglary in November 2007, after the home owner caught him in the middle of the burglary and called the police. A second member was arrested in January 2008, in connection with a May 27, 2007 break-in, after he allegedly left his fingerprints on the scene. His case is still pending, and the federal government has started deportation proceedings against him. Two other members of the group were believed responsible for several of the break-ins in the Ninja Burglar case, but were never charged. Instead, police contacted federal immigration officials who started deportation proceedings against those two members of the group.
Police brass have long been loath to acknowledge the serial burglar's "Ninja" nickname, and they refer to the spree - which began last May 30 - simply as "Pattern 16."
Monday, June 16, 2008 marks another reported incident implicating the "Ninja Burglar", this time robbing a Hewlet Harbor home in Long Island.
On August 4, 2009 a robbery on Sabrina Ln. In Staten Island is believed to be the "Return of the Ninja", which leads to speculation whether or not the Ninja was ever caught.
External links
- A Fox News report on the Staten Island Ninja.
- WCBSTV.COM reports a new Ninja Burglar robbery, this time on Long Island.