Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that an alleged serial burglar was arraigned on multiple burglary and attempted burglary charges for seven incidents along the North Shore of Nassau County.
Vincent Dougherty, 64, was arraigned Wednesday before Judge Robert McDonald on three counts of Burglary in the Second Degree (a C violent felony) and four counts of Attempted Burglary in the Second Degree (a D violent felony). Bail was set at $1 million cash, $1 million bond, and $5 million partially secured bond. The defendant is due back in court on May 30, 2024.
Dougherty is a discretionary persistent felony offender. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years to life in prison on each completed burglary.
“Vincent Dougherty is an alleged career criminal with burglaries spanning over decades. Over the course of several months in 2021, this defendant allegedly lurked in the backyards of multiple homes in exclusive North Shore neighborhoods, gained access through unlocked doors or by smashing windows, and stole luxury items,” said DA Donnelly. “Dougherty is also charged with attempting to burglarize four more homes in Glen Head, Syosset, and Old Westbury. Thanks to the relentless investigative work of police and my prosecutors, we were able to link this defendant to these alleged crimes and hold him accountable.”
DA Donnelly said that, according to the indictment and investigation, the defendant on seven separate occasions allegedly burglarized or attempted to burglarize homes on the North Shore.
Each of the burglaries took place in the early morning hours at homes that abutted public properties, parkland, or wooded areas.
On May 8, 2021, at a home on Wenwood Drive in Brookville, the defendant allegedly entered through an unlocked door, stole a Hermes handbag, and fled the scene.
On July 19, 2021, at a residence on Hickory Drive in Old Brookville, the defendant again allegedly entered through an unlocked door, stole a Chanel handbag, and fled.
On September 11, 2021, at a home on Spring Court in Muttontown, the defendant allegedly broke a kitchen window with a rock and stole the homeowner’s wallet with cash and credit cards inside.
On May 18, 2021, on Winchester Drive in Glen Head, and on June 11, 2021, at two locations in Syosset, the defendant allegedly attempted to gain access and burglarize the residences.
The defendant also allegedly attempted to burglarize another home on Morgan Drive in Old Westbury on September 21, 2021.
Each of the alleged incidents was caught on surveillance video.
Police were able to use the surveillance video and the defendant’s clothing to link him to the alleged burglaries.
The defendant was arrested on May 14, 2024, by detectives of the Nassau County Police Department’s 8th Precinct Squad.
NCDA thanks NCPD’s 2nd Precinct and 8th Precinct Squads for their assistance in this prosecution.
The case is being prosecuted by Senior Litigation Counsel Tracy Keeton of the Major Offense/Homicide Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Daniel Quinn of the County Court Trial Bureau. Dougherty was represented by the Legal Aid Society at arraignment.
The charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.