New York woman facing charges for burglarizing homes of people attending funerals

A Bronx woman is being accused of burglarizing homes of grieving family members while these people were attending their loved ones' funerals.

Latonia Shelecia Stewart is accused of breaking into the homes of bereaved families. Courtesy of Westchester County DA's Office)

A Bronx woman was indicted on Wednesday on 22 criminal charges for allegedly burglarizing homes of grieving family members while they were attending their loved ones’ funerals.

Latonia Shelecia Stewart, 26, is facing counts of burglary, grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, petty larceny, criminal mischief, possession of burglar’s tools and three motor vehicle violations, the New York Post reports. 

Stewart is connected to six different burglaries that took place in homes located in Rye Brook, Cortlandt, Scarsdale, Irvington, Ossining, and Tarrytown between fall 2017 and spring 2018, prosecutors said. 

READ MORE: ‘Five years is unspeakable’: NY Gov. Cuomo blasts mayor de Blasio’s handling of Garner case

She reportedly would broke windows and glass door using a mallet hammer to enter thee homes where she would steal personal items like jewelry. 

READ MORE: Mother of Eric Garner writes powerful essay after decline to prosecute police officer who killed him

Police said they noticed a trend of robberies tied to people who recently had relatives obituaries published detailing funeral information, according to NBC New York. 

Stewart was eventually caught on May 1, 2018, when cops found her attempting to burglarize a dead person’s home, prosecutors said. Officials say the mallet hammer was found in her car when they arrested her. The obituary of the deceased was reportedly found on Stewart’s phone. Her baby was also found in the backseat of her car along with additional stolen property. 

READ MORE: Budget-conscious bride cuts nuptial costs to $3000 by shopping on Amazon

Stewart is scheduled to return to court on Aug. 13.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE