Six people have been charged in a large-scale burglary ring targeting numerous homes in Lehigh County and surrounding areas, Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan announced in a news conference and news release dated April 26.

Roger Juan Tirado, 51, of Allentown; Jose Luis Torres, 51, of Carnegie, Allegheny County; Jonathan Mendez, 47, of Allentown; Nydia Tirado, 59, of Allentown; Agapito Pagan-Liciaga, 48, of Allentown and William Tirado-Liciaga, 65, of Allentown, are all charged in connection with the burglary ring, according to authorities.

Suspects Nydia Tirado and Jonathan Mendez were not in custody at the time of the news release.

To date, authorities have seized stolen items valued at more than $160,000, including more than 35 firearms, in connection with the burglaries.

The crimes occurred at homes in Lehigh, Berks and Northampton counties as well as at least one home in New Jersey.

A joint operation involving Pennsylvania State Police troopers as well as officers from South Whitehall Township, Whitehall Township and Upper Saucon Township was created to investigate the crimes. The investigation was also aided by the state police Special Emergency Response Team; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the United States Marshals Service; Pennsylvania State Parole Agents and Northampton and Berks District Attorney Offices.

According to authorities, since June 2019, Lehigh County law enforcement agencies have been investigating burglaries and attempted burglaries at homes in Allentown, Bethlehem, Emmaus, Lower Macungie Township, Salisbury Township, South Whitehall Township, Upper Saucon Township, Upper Milford Township and Whitehall Township as well as in Warren Township, N.J. and in Berks and Northampton counties.

Officials provided the following details in a news release:

Investigators noted distinct patterns with the burglaries.

For example, entry was made by prying open doors with a flat-blade object, breaking windows or through an unsecured entryway.

Most of the burglaries occurred during daylight hours and although most of the homes the burglars targeted were unoccupied, in several cases, residents and children were home at the time of the burglaries and the suspects fled after being discovered.

Items allegedly taken included cash, at least 37 firearms, jewelry, coins, financial documents and electronics.

Several home surveillance cameras captured images during several of the burglaries, but the defendants avoided identification by wearing masks and gloves. Any vehicles they used were parked several blocks away, according to authorities.

The case remains under investigation and not all the defendants are in custody, according to authorities. Arrest warrants have been issued.

Roger Tirado, Nydia Tirado, William Tirado-Liciaga, Agapito Pagan-Liciaga, Torres and Mendez are all charged with alleged corrupt organizations and conspiracy to corrupt organization, all felonies of the first degree.

Other charges include:

•Roger Tirado: Knowledge that Property is the Proceeds of an Illegal Act, Proceeds of Unlawful Act to Avoid a Transaction Reporting Requirement, Conspiracy to Commit Burglary, Receiving Stolen Property and Burglary, all felonies of the first degree; multiple counts of Receiving Stolen Property (misdemeanors of the first, second and third degree); Criminal Use of a Communication Facility, a felony of the third degree; Tampering With/Fabricating Physical Evidence, a misdemeanor of the second degree; Person Not to Possess, Use, Manufacture, Control, Sell or Transfer Firearms; a felony of the second degree; Firearms Not to Be Carried Without a License, a felony of the third degree; Theft, a felony of the third degree and Possessing an Instrument of Crime, a misdemeanor of the first degree. At the time of the news conference, Tirado was in Lehigh County Jail under $500,000 bail for all charges.

•Nydia Tirado: Dealing in Proceeds Unlawful Act/Intent to Promote and Receiving Stolen Property; both felonies of the first degree; Conspiracy to Receiving Stolen Property, a felony of the third degree; and Tampering With/Fabricating Evidence and Conspiracy to Tampering With/Fabricating Evidence, both misdemeanors of the second degree. She is free after posting $25,000 bail.

•William Tirado-Liciaga: Burglary, Conspiracy to Commit Burglary, Knowledge that Property is the Proceeds of an Illegal Act and Dealing in Proceeds Unlawful Act/Intent to Promote, all felonies of the first degree. He is in Lehigh County Jail under $275,000 bail.

•Jonathan Mendez: Dealing in Proceeds Unlawful Act/Intent to Promote, Knowledge that Property is the Proceeds of an Illegal Act, Receiving Stolen Property and Conspiracy to Commit Receiving Stolen Property, all felonies of the first degree. He is in Lehigh County Jail under $275,000 bail.

•Jose Luis Torres: Burglary, Conspiracy to Commit Burglary and Possession of Firearm Prohibited, all felonies of the first degree; Theft by Unlawful Taking and Firearms Not to Be Carried Without a License, both felonies of the third degree, and Possession of an Instrument of Crime, a misdemeanor of the first degree.

•Pagan-Liciaga: Two counts of Criminal Use of a Communication Facility, a felony of the third degree; Receiving Stolen Property, a felony of the second degree; Tampering With/Fabricating Physical Evidence and Obstructing/Impeding Justice, both misdemeanors of the second degree. Pagan-Liciaga is free after posting $25,000 bail.