82-Year-Old UES 'Holiday Burglar' Get 5 Years In Prison: DA

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — An elderly burglar who used his unassuming nature to sneak past doormen at Upper East Side buildings will serve a five-year prison sentence, a spokesperson for the Manhattan District Attorney said.

Samuel Sabatino, 82, pleaded guilty to grand larceny, burglary, identity theft, attempted burglary, bail jumping and tampering with physical evidence in exchange for the five-year sentence with an additional five years of post supervision release, prosecutors said. He will be 92 by the end of the sentence.

The geriatric crook earned the nickname "the holiday bandit" among investigators because he snuck into apartments while residents were away on vacation. Sabatino was eventually busted for a string of robberies that netted him stolen goods valued at about $139,000, according to a criminal complaint from the Manhattan District Attorney's office. The burglaries took place around Memorial Day and July 4 at Upper East Side buildings, prosecutors said.

Sabatino broke into two apartments at 201 E. 79th St. in 2019 and stealing from residents who were away on vacation. The burglar took items such as wedding rings, high-end watches, and other gold and diamond jewelry.

Around July 4, Sabatino slipped by a doorman at 215 East 68th Street, prosecutors said. One of the building's residents told police that he encountered Sabatino when the burglar knocked on his door. When the resident opened the door the accused burglar told him he thought he was on the wrong floor.

Sabatino later broke into an apartment in the building and stole various belongings with an estimated value of $39,000.

Sabatino was arrested on Aug. 31, 2019 after he was denied entrance to a building at 1623 Third Ave., according to the criminal complaint. The burglar told the doorman of the building he was there to see his friend "Suarez" but that he may have the wrong building.