Based on DNA, Paul Shkreli, 45, of Yonkers, was charged in a 2003 home invasion robbery of a pizzeria owner who lived in Mahwah.
For 15 years, the terrifying home invasion robbery of a Bergen County pizzeria owner remained a mystery.
Paul Shkreli
The victim told police he was tied to a chair by thieves wearing Halloween masks after they entered his house through a basement window. They threatened the man repeatedly as they ransacked his home, eventually stealing nearly $200,000 from a safe.
One of the suspects left behind a mask and a gun.
The crime occurred on May 25, 2003 and while police conducted an investigation and developed several suspects, no arrests were made.
That changed this week when Mahwah police announced DNA found on the mask linked a New York man to the crime.
Based on DNA, Paul Shkreli, 45, of Yonkers, was charged with kidnapping, robbery, armed burglary, theft of more than $75,000, and weapons charges, Mahwah Police Chief James Batelli said Wednesday.
Detectives located Shkreli in the Westchester County Jail and served him with a warrant. He is being held in an unrelated case and will eventually be extradited to New Jersey to face charges, Batelli said.
“During the course of the (2003) robbery, the suspects left a costume-style mask and a .22-caliber handgun in the residence,” Batelli said.
“An extensive investigation was conducted and although detectives followed many leads and developed several suspects, no arrests were made,” Batelli said. “At the time it was believed that this was part of a very organized crime ring.”
Testing on the items came up empty until last month, when the Bergen County Sheriff’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation contacted local police about DNA on the mask, Batelli said.
“Advances in DNA technology now provided a positive match and suspect,” Batelli said.
Mahwah police had investigated two other home invasions at the pizzeria owner’s home within a year of the last crime and believe Shkreli was involved in those crimes along with two other suspects who remain at large, Batelli said.
Shkreli had worked as a superintendent at an apartment complex a short walk from the victim’s home and the pizzeria, Batelli said.
Court records show Shkreli served time in prison for a 2004 burglary and is currently in the Westchester County Jail on a burglary charge.
In 2004, Shkreli led police on a high-speed chase after refusing to pull over in Bedford, New York. Authorities said he was wanted for his participation in a burglary ring.
In 2017, Shkreli was charged with burglary after allegedly trying to break into a jewelry store through a barber shop, according to police and news reports.
Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
http://www.nj.com/bergen/index.ssf/2018/07/dna_break_15_years_after_home_invasion_leads_to_co.html