'Why did someone do this to me?' Victim of NYPD officer burglary speaks with News 12
Court documents revealed that 33-year-old Luis Triunfel used his NYPD-issued device to target an individual and tamper with evidence after a burglary.
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An NYPD officer is facing numerous charges for burglary and tampering with evidence after a burglary in Soundview.
Court documents revealed that 33-year-old Luis Triunfel used his NYPD-issued device to target an individual and tamper with evidence after a burglary.
According to the documents, on Aug. 30, the officer ran a license plate reader on an individual without probable cause.
News 12 spoke with one of the victims who wanted to remain anonymous. She says she and her sons were on vacation and returned to find their belongings gone.
The victim spoke to News 12 in Spanish.
“When [my son] opened the cabinet, he said, 'Oh my God, mom, they robbed me,'" the victim said.
The victims say that a shopping cart and a safe containing sensitive documents and valuables were stolen. The safe contained about $9,500 in currency and $38,500 in gold jewelry. The victim's Social Security card, passport and permanent resident card were also inside the safe.
"I cry every day thinking, 'Why did they do this to me,’" the victim said.
The investigation revealed that after a police report was filed for the burglary, Triunfel checked in on the investigation on the NYPD system. He kept tabs on the investigation multiple times. The officer even searched for his own name. All his activity on his NYPD-issued device was logged and collected.
It was also reported in documents that Triunfel returned to the location of the burglary and erased video surveillance from its systems.
The NYPD says Triunfel has been suspected without pay pending the investigation. The officer is due back in court on Oct. 24. He was released but was ordered to surrender his passport until the next court date.
