Alleged burglar found stuck in dentist office's ceiling on Long Island
BAY SHORE, Suffolk County (WABC) -- A Long Island man is under arrest after he got stuck inside a dentist office during an alleged burglary.
Police say 32-year-old Sean Maranzino tried to break into Calderon Dental in Bay Shore through an air conditioning vent Tuesday but got stuck.
He was discovered hours later when workers arrived.
"Hanging out from the ceiling, stuck, he was stuck," employee Heather Hernandez said. " He couldn't get out."
Hernandez said the man claimed he was looking for a cat named Sparkles, which she initially considered believing.
"I kind of did, because I like cats," she said. "Then I asked him again, 'Who sent you?' And he said, 'The fire department.' And I asked him like, 'The fire department? Which fire department?' And he said, 'The 931,' and I knew something was wrong."
Police removed Maranzino from the ceiling and arrested him. Investigators say the unemployed HVAC repairman is behind at least five business burglaries across Suffolk County.
Each time, he has entered through the ceiling.
Maranzino is accused of also breaking into the Jackson Hewitt on Montauk Highway in East Patchogue through an open HVAC unit on March 14, where employee Amir Hassan confronted him.
Hassan said the suspect, who was wearing a mask, told him he was there to deliver vitamins and work on the AC unit.
"I said, 'No problem,' and I locked the door back up and I went back into my office," Hassan said. "I have a shotgun, so I came out with my shotgun and I told him, 'You leave now.'"
Maranzino is also accused of break-ins at the Vitamin Shoppe on the Westbound Sunrise Service Road in Bohemia on March 15, High Times Vape on Medford Avenue in North Patchogue on March 17, and Vitamin World on Farber Drive North in Bellport on March 18.
He is accused of taking cash, smoking equipment, and locked boxes from the various businesses.
Maranzino was charged with five counts of third-degree burglary.
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