Police say the pair was working for a Schnecksville-based landscaping business when the burglarized a handful of homes in Feburary.
Authorities recorded conversations during prison visits to pin a handful of Lehigh Valley burglaries on two Allentown landscapers, court records say.
Javier Ramos, 44, of the 500 block of West Allen Street, was arraigned today on burglary charges. Authorities say his co-defendant David Lafantano, 42, of the 100 block of South Carlisle Street in Allentown, will be arraigned Friday.
The pair allegedly burglarized a home Feb. 9 in the 4800 block of Coatbridge Lane in Lehigh Township, a home Feb. 16 in the 7000 block of Dusseldorf Square in East Allen Township and a home Feb. 28 in the 3500 block of Courtney Drive in Upper Saucon Township.
Police traced the burglaries to Ramos and Lafantano after finding an envelope addressed to Lafantano's daughter at the scene of the Lehigh Township break-in, according to court records.
Authorities also took note of footprints in the snow around that home, where about $22,000 in valuables were stolen.
Police say the pair worked for Class Act Landscaping out of Schnecksville, Pa., and authorities believe they burglarized customers.
Police say the pair were incarcerated in Lehigh County Prison regarding an incident from Weisenberg Township when authorities obtained recorded conversations from visitations at the prison in late March.
During one of the visits Ramos spoke with his girlfriend, Allison Wanamaker, and discussed where to take some of the items which had been stolen from homes in the area, court records say. If she was asked where she obtained the items, Ramos told Wanamaker to tell people she got it from “the electronic fairy.”
During conversations with his wife at the prison, court records indicate Lafantano was upset that Ramos’ girlfriend was going to be getting the items stolen from the homes.
Authorities responded to the Wanamaker residence, where Allison’s father admitted he thought his daughter had brought stolen electronics into the home, according to court papers. When police searched the home, they found items matching those stolen during the recent burglaries, according to court records.
Ramos was arraigned before District Judge Robert Hawke in Lehigh Township on charges of burglary, theft, receiving stolen property, conspiracy and criminal trespassing. He was sent to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $75,000 bail.