'High tech' auto theft ring busted in the Bronx

A pair of brothers from the Bronx have been charged with 16 criminal accounts related to a string of “high tech” auto thefts they conducted between January-October 2023, according to the New York attorney general’s office.

Ricky Paulino is charged with grand larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and conspiracy. He faces a maximum of 15 years in prison. His brother, Rahinier Paulino, faces a maximum sentence of seven years for charges of criminal possession of stolen property, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and conspiracy.

“For many New Yorkers, their car is their most valuable possession, and having it stolen can be devastating,” New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a release. “These individuals used sophisticated methods to steal cars throughout New York City, but today we are bringing them to justice.”

The ring was responsible for at least four stolen Hondas in New York City as well as a location in Massachusetts, according to the attorney general’s office.

According to the attorney general’s office, once a vehicle was selected and the date for the theft was set, Ricky Paulino and other accomplices would arrive in a “follow car.” Once on the scene, Paulino would break into the target vehicle and reprogram its computer system to gain control of it. This allowed the ring to steal cars “in a matter of minutes” without triggering an alarm or drawing attention, despite being in a dense urban setting. Ricky Paulino was also able to reprogram the vehicle to stop recognizing the real owner’s electronic key, rendering it useless.

The investigation into the Paulinos also found that the brothers worked together to sell a stolen car in the Bronx.

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