District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan has announced that several people have been charged in a large-scale burglary ring that targeted numerous homes in Lehigh County and surrounding areas.

Roger Juan Tirado, 51, of Allentown; Jose Luis Torres, 51, of Carnegie, Pennsylvania; 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.

Beginning in 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, Whitehall Township, as well as in Warren Township, New Jersey and in Berks and Northampton counties.

Investigators noted distinct patterns with the burglaries. 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 targeted were unoccupied, in several cases, residents and children were home at the time of the burglaries and the defendants fled after being discovered.

Items stolen included cash, at least 37 firearms, jewelry, coins, financial documents and electronics. To date authorities have seized stolen items valued at more than $160,000.

Home surveillance cameras captured images during several of the burglaries, but the defendants avoided identification by always wearing masks and gloves and would park any vehicles they used several blocks away.

When Torres was arrested, authorities found a similar face mask in his possession, as well as a loaded handgun.

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

Each also faces other charges, ranging from burglary to tampering with evidence to possession of firearms to receiving stolen property.

Nydia Tirado and Pagan-Liciaga are free under $25,000 bail each, while the others were remanded to Lehigh County Jail under much steeper penalties.