Smithfield Target Break-In: Two Indicted

SMITHFIELD, RI— A Providence federal grand jury indicted two Albanian nationals from New York on Tuesday. They are charged with conspiring to break into a Smithfield, R.I., Target department store and stealing more than $14,000 from an automatic teller machine inside the store. Specifically, Epirot Krasniqi, 26, of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Liridon Gashi, 32, of Bronx, N.Y., are charged with one count each of conspiracy to commit larceny from a financial institution, bank larceny, conspiracy to commit burglary involving controlled substances, and burglary involving controlled substances.

According to the U.S. Attorney's office, the crime happened on Oct.9. The suspects allegedly cut a hole in the roof, pried open an ATM and stole the cash. Then they're accused of breaking through a wall inside the store reach the pharmacy, where they tried to grab more than $500 worth of controlled substances. But they set off the alarm, police said.

Smithfield officers responded and found the men hiding inside air conditioning units on the roof.

The two suspects were charged in state court and released on bail.

Epirot Krasniqi was arrested today in New York by FBI agents on a federal arrest warrant issued by the U.S. District Court in Providence. He was ordered detained in federal custody during an initial appearance in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

A federal arrest warrant has been issued for Liridon Gashi.

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