Albany police charge 3 in residential burglaries

PHOTOGRAPHER: David Lombardo

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A trio of residential burglars suspected in at least two heists are now in Albany County jail.

The first reported incident was on Aug. 12 around 4:20 a.m., when police responded to a burglary in progress at 76 Forest Ave. The 95-year-old victim woke up to see two people in the hallway of her house with flashlights, who then fled the house with money, a credit card and several pieces of jewelry.

Jasmine Griffin, 20, of 217 Spruce St. in Albany, was the first burglar identified by police, when she was discovered with two stolen items on Aug. 18. A search of her house also revealed a handgun.

The second confirmed burglary was at the unoccupied 44 Southern Blvd. on Aug. 30, when a neighbor alerted police to a man and woman breaking into the house from a window inside the front porch. Officers responding to the scene discovered Shawn Ellis, 23, of 337 Myrtle Ave. in Albany, and Keona Bostic, 26, of 270 Orange St. in Albany, still inside the house. They had stolen a laptop computer, stereo equipment, a camera and assorted jewelry.

In the subsequent investigation by police, Ellis and Bostic were both connected to the first burglary. Additionally, a search of their residences and Griffin’s yielded items from two burglaries in Watervliet and two in Albany.

Griffin was charged with two counts of criminal possession of stolen property and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree. Ellis and Bostic were both charged with burglary in the second degree and petit larceny.

Charges are expected on the four additional burglaries.